By: REYNALDO G. NAVALES

Photo Credit: new.goisrael.com

CLARK FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is working on visa-free tourist arrivals in Subic Freeport, said SBMA chairperson and administrator Wilma Eisma when she met with officers and members of the Pampanga Press Club at Park Inn by Radisson Clark last Tuesday.

Eisma said the visa-free scheme is one of the strategies to attract cruise ship liners to dock in Subic Bay.

“One of the strategies is the visa-free for tourists passing through Subic Freeport and airport. We are currently working with Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, and Office of the President for a possible executive order that will amend the existing one where tourists who come to Subic via the seaport and airport can come visa-free for 14 days provided that they will stay within Subic and contiguous areas,” she said.

The SBMA head expressed optimism that the visa-free proposal for Subic tourists will be granted soon.

“I’m very, very hopeful that it will be granted soon because once it happens, I can guarantee you it might be us refusing tourists,” Eisma said.

She described the cruise ship tourism in Subic as bullish.

“Right now, we have already confirmed 50 cruise ship arrivals for 2019 and we are working for more,” Eisma said.

Another strategy is to sell Subic as the port destination and contiguous areas like Clark as cruise ship tourist stops.

“The first strategy that we did is to ask Zambales, Bataan and Pampanga and CLark to be part of the corridor. So that is the picture for all of us. So cruise ship tourist who arrive in Subic are also taken in Clark. I’m in very close coordination with Noel Manankil of Clark Development Corporation. I am also working with Governor Abet Garcia to sell Bataan and of course the provincial government of Zambales,” Eisma said.

Source: sunstar.com.ph

Continue Reading

Photo Credit: http://philippineslifestyle.com

A bill filed at the Senate proposes requiring prospective car buyers to show proof of availability of parking space before they can buy a vehicle, according to a report on GMA News’ Unang Balita on Tuesday by Athena Imperial.

Senate Bill No. 201 (Proof of Parking Space Bill) was filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to address the problem of illegal parking which worsens traffic.

Those found lying about having a parking space will also be penalized.

The bill also aims to ensure that emergency vehicles will have ample space on the roads.

Some Filipinos interviewed were not in favor of the bill.

“Unfair po. ‘Yung may gustong bumili ng sasakyan ngayon ‘di na makabili kasi walang parking,” said Lovely del Rosario.

“Ang tinitira niya ‘yung mga civilian. ‘Yung mga company na nagbebenta ng sasakyan, wala,” said Jonie Serbito.

Gatchalian, however, clarified that the bill does not intend to prevent people from buying vehicles.

“Ang intention ng bill hindi para pagbawalan ang pagbili ng sasakyan. You can buy 10 cars, you can buy 20 cars as long as you have 10 parking slots and 20 parking slots of your own,” Gatchalian said.

A citizen, Edwin Saclayan, is in favor of the bill, saying, “So it’s about time na merong mag-open niyan. Siguro matagal na dapat ginawa ‘yon.”

Loopholes

Meanwhile, lawyer Inton Luna, president of Lawyers for Commuters Safety & Protection, said the proposed bill has good intentions but still needs some revision.

Interviewed on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, Luna said the bill should not cover only Metro Manila, but should extend to outlying areas where traffic buildups are experienced.

He also mentioned that some condominiums are being allowed by the local government to bypass the building code’s provision concerning parking spaces.

“Inallow sila ng local government na ang kanilang parking [space] ay hindi ma-extend dun sa itinatalaga ng building code, ” Luna said.

He also believes that an “actual proof” of parking space is needed and that mere affidavits would not be enough. “Napakadali po ‘yan, pag magpaparehistro ka, nakalako lang po ‘yan sa notaryo tapos tatanggapin naman po ng LTO ‘yun kasi ang sabi sa panukala, saka palang magkakaroon ng penalty ‘pag nalaman na nagsinungaling ka sa affidavit but at the point of registration, nairehistro mo na kahit na ang affidavit mo ay false ang nakalagay.”

Likewise, Luna underscored that the issue of illegal parking prevails because the enforcement of traffic laws lacks teeth.

“Kaya po maraming nagpa-park sa mga kalye eh dahil hindi nae-enforce po ng mabuti ng mga enforcer yung mga batas po natin,” he said.

He said that their group will reach out to Gatchalian so that senator may take their suggestions into consideration. — Dona Magsino/KG/RSJ, GMA News

Source: gmanetwork.com

Continue Reading

CLARK FREEPORT. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Administrator Wilma Eisma joins officers and members of the Pampanga Press Club led by president Diosdado Pangilinan, EVP Noel Tulabut and chairman of the board Eric Jimenez during News at Hues, Park Inn Hotel, SM City Clark on October 16, 2018.. (Photo by Chris Navarro)

THE Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Bases Conversion and Development AUthority (BCDA) are coordinating with the Southeast Asian Games committee in preparation for next year’s international athletic meet which will be held in the country from November 30 to December 10.

This was learned from SBMA Administrator Wilma “Amy” Eisma during a meeting with members of the Pampanga Press Club at the Park Inn by Radisson Clark on Tuesday, October 16.

“We are now working very closely with the SEA Games committee,” she said.

Eisma said some of the sports events including triathlon, duathlon, sailing, beach volleyball, sepak takraw, taekwondo, weightlifting, Muay Thai, chess, table tennis and others will be held in Subic.

With the help of the national government, SBMA has implemented a P50 million project for the rehabilitation of support facilities and road networks which will be used in the 2019 SEA Games, according to the official.

Subic has been known as sports tourism destination, Eisma added. “The very recent sports event is the Spartan obstacle course race.”

Half of the SEA Games categories will be held in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, she said.

Source: sunstar.com.ph

Continue Reading

Inaprubahan na ng Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ang P2 dagdag sa minimum na pasahe sa mga jeep, na magsisimula sa Nobyembre.

Sa inaprubahang petisyong inilabas nitong Miyerkoles, pumayag ang LTFRB na gawing P10 ang minimum na pasahe sa mga jeep mula P8.

Kasalukuyang nasa P9 ang minimum na pasahe matapos aprubahan ng LTFRB noong Hulyo ang P1 provisional fare increase o pansamantalang dagdag sa pasahe.

Dahil sa bagong desisyon, nawalan ng bisa ang provisional increase.

Magiging epektibo ang desisyon 15 araw matapos itong ilathala sa mga pahayagan kaya sisimulan lang itong ipatupad sa unang linggo ng Nobyembre.

Lumagda sa inaprubahang petisyon sina LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra at board member Ronaldo Corpus.

Lumagda rin si board member Aileen Lizada pero para ihayag ang kaniyang dissent o pagtutol.

–Ulat ni Doris Bigornia, ABS-CBN News

Source: news.abs-cbn.com

Continue Reading

By Jonas Reyes

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – A Korean financer in a casino was found behind the Pier One Moonbay Marina restaurant after allegedly shooting himself in the left temple this Wednesday morning here.

According to the SBMA Law Enforcement Department (LED) chief Col. Vicente Tolentino, two female joggers found Park Jin Sung lying on beach behind the restaurant at 6:15am. The witnesses flagged down LED Viking Patrol Allan Tolentino, who was patrolling the area on his bike.

The bike patrol officer alerted the Emergency Response Team of the SBMA Dispensary, who immediately responded to the incident. Responding Doctor Arlene Cesa found the victim still gasping for breath, but noted that the victim had already shot himself on the left temple with a 9mm handgun.

The victim, a resident of Ayala in Alabang, succumbed to his wound before the EMT could save his life. The victim’s handgun was found underneath his body while ammunitions of the said gun were found lined up on a concrete structure where the victim sat.

Tolentino said that the driver of the victim confirmed that the two arrived in Subic Bay Freeport at 4am, a few hours before the incident, and that they were checked in at the Diamond Hotel in separate rooms. The driver also disclosed that the victim never even went to his room.

Currently, the LED and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are conducting a joint investigation on the matter as the body was removed from the scene.

Source: Zambales Herald Newsweekly FB page

Continue Reading