SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: A Subic locator that opposes the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s (SBMA) imposition of Common Use Service Area (CUSA) fees has asked the government agency to stop charging it for payment, citing a court ruling that annulled the practice.

In a letter dated August 22, 2017 addressed to SBMA Chairman Martin Diño and SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma, the lawyer for Brighterday Subic Ltd. Inc. (BSLI), Diosdado Rongcal, invoked the nullity of SBMA Resolution 12-04-43-48 based on a decision by Olongapo Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 74 rendered on January 5, 2015.

The ruling is based on a case filed by another locator, Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium Inc. (SBMEI), that was paying CUSA fees. It was affirmed by the Court of Appeals on August 14, 2017.

“Without necessarily abandoning other reasons for not paying CUSA fees – and by way of invoking the nullity of the subject resolution pursuant to a final and executory decision – it is our stand that SBMA could no longer execute or implement the resolution and the alleged CUSA fees can no longer be collected from our client – BSLI,” the letter stated.

The BSLI lawyer said the decision must apply to all, not only to SBMEI, also citing constitutional provisions on the equal protection of the law.

The decision rendered by the RTC annulling the SBMA resolution also ruled to dissolve all billings and statements of account imposing CUSA fees permanently and enjoined its officers from collecting them.

The Manila Times on Thursday sought both Diño and Eisma for comment but the SBMA administrator said she is yet to read the BSLI letter, while Diño was not in Subic, according to his chief of staff.

A source at the SBMA who refused to be named said Subic Bay management has won CUSA cases in court at a ratio of four to one.

“Every court decision applies only to the parties involved in the case. If BLSI is a party to that case, then it applies to it, otherwise, it cannot,” the source said.

He added that CUSA cases are decided case to case and as in the court cases the SBMA has won regarding CUSA, the SBMA has not told other locators who filed CUSA petitions that the cases they have won should also apply to other locators.

“In the same way, for every four CUSA cases we won against one we lost, we never tell these locators who are not party to these cases that the court’s decision is also binding [on]them,” the source said.

The SBMA started charging locators CUSA fees in October 2012 for use of common areas like parking lots and other facilities.

Source: manilatimes.net

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Freeport locators, residents and employees take part in the annual International Coastal Clean-up on Saturday (September 16) along the Waterfront area of the Subic Bay Freeport, in consonance with millions of other volunteers in the global effort to protect the sea and coastal areas.

photo by Jun Dumaguing, MPD-SBMA

photo by Jun Dumaguing, MPD-SBMA

SBMA Administrator and CEO Wilma T. Eisma joins Freeport locators, residents and employees in cleaning up the Waterfront area of the Subic Bay Freeport during the 32nd edition of the annual International Coastal Clean-up, a global initiative to protect the sea and coastal areas.

Volunteer workers from a Freeport company in the Subic Bay Freeport sort trash they collected along the Waterfront area of the Subic Bay Freeport on Saturday during the International Coastal Clean-up, a global initiative to protect the sea and coastal areas.

Source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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With lower rates, faster turnaround time, and 15 piers and wharves to choose from, the Subic Bay Freeport is angling to be the port of choice for shippers and port users in Northern and Central Luzon today.

Aerial view of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone with its container terminals, piers and warehouse facilities.

Atty. Wilma T. Eisma, administrator and chief executive officer of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), said during the Northern Luzon Investors’ Conference at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel last Thursday that Subic provides the best solution in terms of the ease and cost of doing shipping and related maritime business.

Eisma told business leaders and prospective investors in the region during the conference that along with its strategic location, the country’s premier free port provides 10 built-in advantages that could spell the difference for players in the shipping business,” Eisma told business leaders and prospective investors in the region during the conference.

She added that Subic’s has 10 plus factors that make for successful shipping operations: faster turnaround time, absence of red tape, short processing time, absence of congestion, absence of traffic, immediate docking upon vessel arrival, no truck ban, lower port tariff, higher efficiency, and ISO quality service.

To start with, the Subic Freeport has a total of 15 piers and wharves that can support the transhipment of a wide range of cargoes. Eisma said the two wharves in Subic’s former Ship Repair Facility are ideal for passenger ships, as well as military vessels because they are located near the Central Business District, while the two other piers further inside the facility would be ideal for repair and boat services.

On the other hand, the two jetties at the former Naval Supply Depot are perfect for break-bulk cargoes and shipments bound for Subic’s industrial parks and manufacturing centers in Central and Northern Luzon, while the three docks at the Boton Logistics Center would best be suited for petroleum products.

Those at Cubi Point, meanwhile, could accommodate containerized cargo, as well as grains and fertilizer, while the single landings at Nabasan, Camayan and Grande could be used for specialized purposes, including tourism.

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Eisma also pointed out that Subic is already the port of choice for Hanjin, the fourth largest shipbuilder in the world; China’s Jovo Group, which operates the country’s first ship-to-ship transfer of liquefied petroleum gas; as well as Subic Bay Int’l Terminal Corp., an affiliate of the International Container Terminal Services Inc., which is one of the five major maritime terminal operators in the world.

“We have also attracted nine container shipping lines that now connect Subic Bay to major commercial centers in the United States, Europe, Middle East, and Southeast Asia, and this is because we have some of the lowest rates in stevedoring and arrastre, as well as export, import and transshipment fees,” Eisma said.

She cited as an example Subic’s stevedoring charges for a loaded 40-footer container that is only $94.33, while that for Manila goes for $137.87 excluding VAT, or a difference of $43.54 or 31.58%. On the other hand, Subic’s arrastre rates for the import of a 40-footer container is just P4,787.05, while that for Manila is pegged at P9,235.00 excluding VAT, or a difference of P4,447.95 (48.16%).

As a center for maritime operations, Subic also offers key port services like cargo handling, pilot and tugboat services, ship chandling, bunkering and tendering, ship agents, onboard repair, cargo survey, underwater survey, and vessel lay-up and line handling. It likewise provides facilities for fuel storage and handling, grains storage, maritime training, ship repair, warehousing, and vessel lay-up.

Eisma also said that because the Port of Subic is uniquely accessible by sea, land and air, more and more manufacturers and export producers, as well as importers in Luzon are shipping through this free port.

Among the top exporters using the Port of Subic now are Yokohama Tires Phils., which is located at the Clark Freeport; Juken Sangyo (Subic), Petron Freeport Corp. (Bataan), HLD Clark Steel (Clark), Tong Lung Phil Metal Industry (Subic), Johnson Control-Hitachi (Subic), Limech Manufacturing and Trading (Subic), Orica Phils. Inc. (Bataan and Subic), Hitachi Terminal Mechatronics (Subic), and Philip Morris Int’l (Subic).

On the other hand, the top 10 importers through the Port of Subic are: Foton Motors Phils (Subic), Yokohama Tires Phils (Clark), TIPCO (Pampanga), Nestle Phils (Bulacan), San Miguel Brewery (Pampanga), United Auctioneers Inc. (Subic), Tong Lung Phil Metal Industry (Subic), Masinloc Power Plant (Subic), HHIC-Phils Inc. (Subic), and Transam Waste and Rags (Clark).

In the same occasion, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade spoke on the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program for Subic and Clark, while Bases Conversion and Development Authority President Vivencio Dizon discussed the proposed Clark Green City, among other speakers.

On the other hand, Roberto Locsin, SBITC president and general manager, talked about Subic Port and how it facilitates trade for Northern Luzon shippers. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

Source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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As one of the top tourist destinations across Asia and the world, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority kicks off this year’s National Tourism Week in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone this Sunday, September 24, with the opening of a trade exhibit at the Harbor Point Mall. The weeklong celebration will put a spotlight on the numerous hallmarks and achievements attained by the Freeport in the tourism industry. With the theme “Sustainable Tourism, a Tool for Development”, fun-filled activities which are open to the public are scheduled throughout the week until September 30.

With activities that range from a motorcade, to photo exhibits, to familiarization tours around the Freeport, to competitions; there’s more than enough to share with your friends and family.

For details and inquiries, please contact the SBMA Tourism Department at 047.252.1423 or 047.252.4154 or email marketing.tourism@sbma.com

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Secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez lll has welcomed Randy B. Escolango, former OIC Administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), as the newest addition to his top management team at the Dept. of Finance (DoF).

FINANCE Secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez lll (left) swears in Deputy Insurance Commissioner Randy B. Escolango (right), former OIC Administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the newest addition to his top management team, in simple ceremonies at the Dept. of Finance’s main office in Manila.

FINANCE Secretary Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez lll (left) and new Deputy Insurance Commissioner Randy B. Escolango (right), former OIC Administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), after the latter’s simple Oath-taking ceremony at the DOF’s main office in Manila.

In simple ceremonies at the DOF’s main office in Manila, Dominguez administered to Escolango the latter’s Oath of Office.

Escolango, a lawyer with a Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Administration, has around seven years of experience as Deputy Administrator (DA) of SBMA before he was designated OIC Administrator late in 2016.

He began his career in public service as a Clerk at a Manila court, and joined SBMA when he already had a thriving private law practice.

He expressed appreciation of President Duterte’s trust and confidence in appointing him to the position and vowed to work in line with the thrust, plans & programs of Sec. Dominguez. (VVV)

Source: subicbaynews.net

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