SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Subic Bay’s IT companies represented by their top professionals convened at the Subic Bay Convention and Exhibition Center (SBECC) today in order to participate in this year’s Information and Communications Technology Awareness Forum.

The objective of the forum was to inform and familiarize Freeport locators with modern solutions to ICT related issues that they encounter in their operations. To this end, four different ICT providers were invited to showcase and discuss their products and services.

The proceedings opened with welcome remarks from the SBMA Chair & Administrator Amy Eisma. She thanked all the participants for taking the time to attend the activity that her agency organized. She also shared the good news that CRTEs (Certificates of Registration & Tax Exemption) is now valid for more than a year.

SBMA Chair & Administrator Amy Eisma opened the proceedings by sharing some good news about the issuance of CRTEs

Atty. Eisma spoke with a friendly countenance and reiterated her open door policy but pointed out that while she is willing to listen to locators and find a middle ground, she is only willing to do so as long as they do not sacrifice the integrity of the agency (She even went as far as sharing her personal phone number with the participants). The rest of her speech focused on how important it is to make decisions that may not be popular in the short run but will have a lasting benefit for future generations.

Afterwards, speakers from ICT providers each presented their products and services. Converge ICT Solutions was represented by their Group Head for Corporate Sales, Alan Smyth. Mr. Smyth discussed their company’s 25-year history and how they grew from a cable TV operator to an internationally recognized ICT provider. In particular, he highlighted how his company has been consistently improving the quality of their connectivity despite the in their customer subscription.

Booths where attendees scored a bunch of freebies were on full display during the forum

Chief Revenue Officer Michael Nolasco spoke for PLDT Inc. He went into detail about how PLDT is operating as a global company and the improvements that they are carrying on in order to solidify their role as the Philippines biggest ICT provider. Mr. Nolasco also discussed how IT has transformed from being a backend support for businesses into being extremely critical for their operations. An interesting point he brought up was their AI service for contact centers. Instead of the usual QA that most BPOs use to record and score their calls, the AI service would be able to perform the task more efficiently.

Globe Telecom was represented by Head for Managed Services & Solutions Grace Anduiza. In place of discussing Globe’s individual products and services, Ms. Anduiza emphasized Globe’s approach of custom-fitting their offerings based on their clients’ specific needs and requirements. She pointed out how effective it is for both them and their clients to listen and communicate with each other.

Smart Communications Inc.’s products and services were discussed by Debbie Ledesma and Ryan Muñoz. Ms. Ledesma presented specific products and services from her company tailor fitted for companies in the Subic Bay Freeport, specifically for the manufacturing and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industries. Mr. Muñoz talked about Smart’s enterprise postpaid plans and accompanying services.

Converge ICT Solutions Booth

Throughout the forum, several participants were randomly chosen and were awarded freebies. In addition, booth exhibits, where more free items were distributed, were also on display.

The program was formally closed by Senior Deputy Administrator for Business & Investment Stefani C. Sano who spoke about the importance of recognizing the potential of utilizing the modern ICT solutions presented during the forum. He concluded his talk by stating the need for the Freeport to reinvent itself and keep up with modern developments.

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Photo credit: iorbitnews.com

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – A state-of-the-art monitoring system that provides a live feed of images from remote surveillance areas here has been installed to boost security operations and public safety.

SBMA chairman and administrator Wilma T. Eisma on Wednesday said the system, consists of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, were installed in various areas of the Freeport that are viewed from a bank of monitors and a LED (light-emitting diode) wall at the SBMA Law Enforcement Department (LED) command center.

The system allows the simultaneous viewing of live images from 96 different camera angles.

“It’s quite impressive,” the SBMA chief said, describing the system. “And I hope that this will be something really effective not only in crime prevention but also in promoting public safety and environmental protection in the Freeport.”

Eisma also said the installation of SBMA’s modern monitoring system was made possible by funding from Common Use Service Area (CUSA) fees collected by the Subic agency from business locators, residents, and tourists entering the Freeport.

“Now that we have this state-of-the-art monitoring system, violators can easily be detected and apprehended. Subic is known for its strict enforcement of traffic rules, as well as for its high level of security, and this system brings us to a higher level of police work,” she added.

SBMA police chief Major Vicente Tolentino said that most of the tourist sites in the Freeport are now covered by the CCTV system that was installed by Wireless Link Technologies, Inc., a leading wireless technology provider based in Manila.

PLDT Subictel has also installed CCTVs at the sentry posts of three housing areas in Subic: Binictican, Kalayaan, and Cubi.

“The SBMA will be paying for the system installation contracted out to Wireless Link Technologies, but the cameras provided by PLDT Subictel are for free,“ Eisma said.

Tolentino said that all the CCTVs are monitored 24/7 by LED officers inside the command center.

“We want people to know that the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is one of the safest places in the country, where they could relax without fear of being accosted by criminal elements. At the same time, we want criminal elements to know that we are ready for them and that we can monitor their every move here,” Tolentino said.

The SBMA police head added that more security monitoring systems will be put in place in other areas of the Freeport under the second phase of the agency’s CCTV program. -(Malou Dungog/PNA)

source: ptvnews.ph

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(From left) Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, MTD Clark Inc. chairman Isaac David, MTD Clark Inc. president Nicholas David , Bases Conversion and Development Authority president and CEO Vivencio Dizon, and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade led the media on a tour of the New Clark City spanning the city of Angeles in Pampanga and the towns of Capas and Bamban in Tarlac, today, July 4, 2018. New Clark City is one of the flagship projects under the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, which Secretary Dominguez said will drastically alter the Philippine economic landscape, create over a million jobs per year and bring the country’s logistics backbone up to par with other economies in the world’s most dynamic region.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation on Wednesday floated again its plan to revive the Subic Bay International Airport, which could be operational before the first or second quarter of 2019.

Speaking to reporters, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said “serious talks” are ongoing on the proposed revival of Subic airport. He declined to give an estimate for the cost of the project.

To “give life” to the airport, Tugade explained that Subic airport’s aviation instruments must be upgraded to ensure safe landings. There are no problems with the airport’s structures, he added.

“I think the airport will be operational in due time,” the Transportation chief said. “Perhaps it will be operational before the first… second quarter next year.”
In 2010, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority planned to convert the airport after US delivery giant Federal Express transferred its Asia Pacific hub from Subic to Guangzhou in China.

Tugade first mentioned the DOTR’s plan to restore the Subic airport in 2016. The proposal aims to decongest the overstretched Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Seeing the deterioration of the Manila airport, Tugade earlier said the government is “entertaining” proposals to build airports outside the capital.

source: philstar.com

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Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairperson and Administrator Wilma Eisma says more than 30 investor-companies have cooperated to settle long-due obligations, negotiating payment arrangements approved by the board

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT. The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority is looking to collect around P144.8 million through upfront settlements or via payment schemes over the next 5 years.

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – Efforts of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to collect overdue rent and other fees from businesses here are expected to pay off, with the agency looking to collect around P144.8 million through upfront settlements or via payment schemes over the next 5 years.

SBMA Chairperson and Administrator Wilma Eisma said more than 30 investor-companies here have cooperated with the current administration to settle long-due obligations, negotiating payment arrangements approved by the SBMA board.

“We’re gaining much headway in our collection program because our investors understand that we are serious in managing Subic with transparency, impartiality, and consistency,” Eisma said.

She added, “They can see for themselves that we are applying rules uniformly in keeping with the thrust of President Duterte to fully utilize government assets and maximize their benefits.”

Eisma pointed out that the current SBMA board approved the staggered payment of accounts in order to collect debts that accumulated but were not acted upon by previous administrations.

“We simply inherited these problems, but it is now incumbent upon us to set things right and prevent more losses to the government,” she said.

She added that the payment schemes approved by the Board of Directors since January 2017 had so far accounted for P102.45 million in peso accounts and $847,203 in dollar accounts, leading to an approximate total of P144.8 million in principal alone, based on conversions at the time.

These amounts cover payments for arrears, mostly for land rentals and leasing of facilities, as well as unpaid common use service area (CUSA) fees, deposits, performance bonds, and other charges.

The payment schemes will also yield more than P5.6 million and $53,000 in future interests, Eisma added.

Among the companies with approved payment schemes are the following:

Lyceum of Subic Bay – P31.58 million in arrears, deposits, and other fees
Global Daeil Subic, Inc. – P16.68 million
Subic Bay Yacht Club – P10 million
Speed Subic Corporation – P6.77 million
The latest firm to take advantage of a payment scheme was Japanese pioneer company Koryo Subic, Inc.

According to the payment scheme approved by the SBMA Board, Koryo will pay $219,688 for the lease rental of its 3 expansion areas, as well as a CUSA fee amounting to P394,491.

The Board also called for upfront payments of $43,937 in rent and P78,893 as CUSA fee, as well as escalation rates for the computation of its back lease rentals.

Recovery of unused assets

Eisma said aside from the SBMA’s program to collect overdue debts, the agency is also vigorously pursuing the recovery of unused assets that were previously contracted out for management by Subic-registered companies.

“We have, in fact, repossessed some SBMA facilities that have been left idle or unimproved by lessee- companies, and we have also revoked the contract of investors who failed to meet their contractual obligations,” the SBMA chief said.

“We have to do this because the SBMA and the government are losing money every single minute that these prime assets remain unproductive,” Eisma explained.

She added, “Land, and the buildings and facilities on it, is a very precious commodity in the Subic Bay Freeport because of the limited space here, so we have to be diligent in optimizing these assets for productive economic activities.”

She said an audit started by her administration in December 2017 resulted in gross revenue billings amounting to more than P18 million from 13 companies in the Freeport.

“These are all part of our transparency drive, which in the long run would rebound to a better business climate in the Subic Freeport,” Eisma said.

source: rappler.com

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139 human smuggling victims bound for Micronesia rescued in joint-operation by PH Coast Guard and NBI at Port of Orion in Bataan. Photo from PCG

Authorities rescued 139 human smuggling victims from a cruise ship in Bataan before dawn Tuesday.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) launched a joint-operation at about 1:00 a.m. on the MV Forever Lucky, a cruise ship docked at the Port of Orion and bound for Micronesia.

The raid was launched after the PCG and the NBI were tipped off by the National Coast Watch Center (NCWC) after the latter discovered that the ship was involved in human smuggling.

After boarding the ship, PCG and NBI operatives discovered that 139 of its passengers were undocumented, while 41 of its crew members were tagged in illegal activities.

The PCG and NBI also discovered that the cruise ship was not issued a franchise to travel outside the country.

“Investigation is ongoing for filing of necessary charges against persons behind this illegal activity,” PCG spokesman Armand Balilo told reporters in a text message.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

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