Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairperson Wilma Eisma is now facing a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for supposedly violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

A complaint filed by lawyer Raymund Palad on Monday, August 13, claimed that Eisma failed to divest herself of shareholdings in TECO Philippines—an electric motor manufacturer and a locator in SBMA.

TECO Philippines operates facilities in Subic Bay Freeport Zone’s Subic Bay Gateway Park.

“Atty. Eisma’s name appeared in TECO’s General Information Sheet (GIS) submitted with SEC on June 16, 2017 as stockholder owning twenty-five shares of TECO, an SBMA locator, and was even appointed as member of company’s Board of Directors while being the Administrator of SBMA,” the complaint alleged.

Section 3 (h) of the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act prohibits public officials to directly or indirectly have interest in any business, contract, or transaction in connection with which she or he intervenes or takes part in an official capacity.

GMA News Online has contacted Eisma’s office for the SBMA chair to comment on the matter, but no response has been received as of this posting.

The complaint claimed that Eisma acquired more shares from TECO and had herself elected as a member of its board.

“In short, Atty. Eisma now receives salaries, compensation, and benefits from the locator private company TECO and at the same time enjoys all the salaries and benefits that go along for being the SBMA Chairperson and Administrator, the complaint alleged.

Palad called for a review of Eisma’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

“Finally, with all due respect, considering the seriousness of the charges, it is prayed that a preventive suspension be immediately issued against Atty. Eisma pending investigation,” the complaint read. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News

(Update: Aug. 13, 2018) In response to the allegations, Atty. Amy Eisma issued this statement during an interview with DZRH News Click to view video

source: gmanetwork.com

Continue Reading

Metro Manila, Ilocos, Cordillera, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro should stay on alert for floods and landslides

Satellite image as of August 12, 2018, 5:30 pm. Image from PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines – Brace for even more rain in Luzon on Monday, August 13, after a weekend that saw many areas already soaked.

In a bulletin issued 4 pm on Sunday, August 12, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned that the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat will continue to affect Luzon on Monday.

The southwest monsoon is still being enhanced by Tropical Storm Karding (Yagi), which already left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday morning, August 11.

Karding is located 665 kilometers north northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, moving northwest at 20 kilometers per hour (km/h). It still has maximum winds of 75 km/h and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

On Monday, moderate to heavy monsoon rain will again hit Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro.

The rest of Luzon will also have scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Residents of areas affected by the southwest monsoon should watch out for flash floods and landslides. Massive floods already hit parts of Metro Manila and Rizal over the weekend. (READ: #FloodPH: Things to do when you’re trapped, in need of rescue)

Classes have already been suspended in parts of Luzon for Monday.

The Visayas and Mindanao – not affected by the southwest monsoon – will only have localized thunderstorms on Monday. But flash floods and landslides are possible, too, if the rains become moderate or heavy.

Meanwhile, a gale warning was issued for Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Cavite, the western coast of Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Batanes, the Calayan Group of Islands, the Babuyan Group of Islands, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, Burias Island, and the southern coast of Batangas.

Seas off those areas are rough to very rough, with wave heights reaching 2.6 meters to 4.5 meters.

PAGASA advised fishermen and others with small vessels not to set sail in areas covered by the gale warning. Larger vessels should watch out for big waves.

PAGASA is also monitoring Tropical Storm Leepi outside PAR. It is 2,065 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon, moving northwest at 20 km/h with maximum winds of 80 km/h and gustiness of up to 95 km/h.

The good news – Leepi is unlikely to enter PAR based on its forecast track.

Karding was the Philippines’ 11th tropical cyclone for 2018. The country usually gets an average of 20 tropical cyclones per year.

PAGASA declared the start of the rainy season last June 8.

source: rappler.com

Continue Reading

The Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Subic has collected P5.27 billion during the second quarter of this year, an official said.

The revenue generated from April to June was 46 percent higher than the P3.6 billion collected during the same period last year, Subic District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Z. Barte Jr. said.

He attributed the increased collection following his appointment in Subic Port on April 27 to the “full support and cooperation of this Port to the plans and programs of BOC Commissioner Isidro S. Lapeña, and SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma.”

For the first semester of the year, the BOC-Subic total collection amounted to P10.12 billion, 28.43 percent higher compared to the P7.88 billion revenue generated a year ago.

source: mindanao.politics.com.ph

Continue Reading

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Despite the heavy torrential rain that clattered on the roof of the venue, Spartan Philippines represented by their race coordinator Mike Reyes together with SBMEI (Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium Inc.) co-founder Scott Sharpe and SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) Chair & Administrator Amy Eisma opened the press conference for the Spartan Trifecta Weekend at Camayan Beach.

The two-day event which is scheduled for September 15 and 16, will feature all three signature Spartan courses (hence the Trifecta name): Sprint, Super, and the much awaited Beast race – which will be held for the first time in the Philippines.

Mike Reyes related that Subic Bay Freeport has long been considered as a destination for the Spartan race. With its picturesque scenery and remarkable terrain strewn about with both man-made and natural structures, he said that the Freeport perfectly suits its role as the venue for the finale of the months-long Southeast Asia leg of the Spartan Race. He also disclosed that he is very much looking forward to how the racers will react to the course and gave assurance that it will be something that Spartans will enjoy.

As the representative for SBMEI’s multiple brands (Ocean Adventure, Camayan Beach, and Adventure Beach), Scott Sharpe expressed his appreciation for the amount of support he has received from the SBMA. Earlier in the week, the joint team reviewed the proposed route for the race which will originate from Camayan Beach. Together with representatives with various SBMA Offices and Departments, the organizers also thoroughly discussed the arrangements they have to set up to ensure that all considerations (traffic issues, parking, accommodation, ecological, logistics) are taken care of.

Atty. Eisma conveyed her gratitude to Spartan Philippines for choosing Subic Bay Freeport as the venue for the Trifecta Weekend. With over 5,000 participants expected to partake in the race, the whole event serves to solidify Subic Bay’s role as the endurance sports capital of the country.

While she had no plans to join the race, she related her and her office staff’s penchant for organizing and running through their own Obstacle Course Races (which they did just the previous week at the tennis center). According to her, the experience is always reminiscent of her childhood play activities around her neighborhood.

In the end, she reminded the organizers that while she wishes for the success of the event and the enjoyment of the participants, safety must be paramount. With the monsoon season still at its height, she cautioned against the perils of holding an activity in inclement weather. The organizer thoughtfully agreed and assured her that the event can be rescheduled in such extreme cases and that there are emergency plans in place.

After the press conference, representatives from Spartan Philippines, as well as registrants from the audience, ventured out of the function hall into the heavy rain for the free workout session. True to the Spartan spirit, the participants’ soldiered on and enthusiastically performed their drills despite the weather. It was a sight to behold and a preview of the activities for this coming September.

Continue Reading

FPB 72 MKII. The first of 4 new patrol boats for the Philippine Coast Guard arrives on August 8, 2018. Photos by the Philippine Coast Guard.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) first of 4 new patrol boats from France arrived in Subic Bay Seaport on Wednesday, August 8.

This is the first of 4 new boats made by French shipbuilder OCEA for the Coast Guard. Two others will be arriving this year and another one next year.The FPB 72 MKII is a 24-meter fast patrol boat with a maximum speed of 28 nautical miles per hour and a capacity for 12 crew members and 16 passengers.

The boat that arrived Wednesday is slated for commissioning on August 23 at the Coast Guard headquarters in Manila.

Aside from the patrol boats, the PCG will also buy an 82-meter Offshore Patrol Vessel.

The overall acquisition cost is P5.142 billion.

The patrol boats were acquired through an agreement between the Department of Transportation and French shipbuilder OCEA on September 9, 2014.

The deal includes training, provisions of spare parts, and technical assistance.

The 2nd and 3rd patrol boats are expected to arrive in September and November this year. The 4th vessel is expected to arrive in January 2019. – Rappler.com

Source: Rapler

Continue Reading