The Subic Bay Freeport has entered the next level in its cruise ship tourism program, as bigger and more luxurious vessels began making port calls here this week.

MS Ovation of the Seas, the latest in the Quantum-class cruise vessels of the Royal Caribbean International cruise line, arrived here on Friday for its maiden port call.

MS Ovation of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, docks at the Alava Wharf during its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, June 8. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma noted that the Ovation of the Seas was the biggest ship to ever dock in Subic in its long history as a naval facility.

“This ship is huge, even bigger than the so-called super-carriers of the US Navy that used to dock here when Subic was still a military base,” Eisma pointed out.

“So, as you can see, we have now taken this cruise ship program several notches higher. We started in February this year with Costa Atlantica, which has a passenger capacity of just over 2,000, and now we have this—Ovation of the Seas with almost 5,000 passengers and crew,” she added.

Subic residents and SBMA employees welcome the arrival of MS Ovation of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, which made its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, June 8. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

“We are glad that in its own little way, Subic is able to help in the national government effort to raise tourist arrivals in the country and generate more income for local people,” she added.

The Ovation of the Seas is an 18-decker ship that measures 348 meters long, has a gross tonnage of 168,666, a maximum occupancy of 4,905 passengers and, along with its sisters Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Sea, is considered the sixth biggest cruise ship in the world today.

To accommodate cruise ship passengers who wanted to visit tourist attractions in Subic and nearby communities last Friday, organizers had to field more than 50 tourist buses, the SBMA said.

Dancers in colorful costume provide welcome gaiety at Alava Wharf during the arrival of MS Ovation of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, which made its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, June 8. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

Two days earlier, MS World Dream, owned by Genting Hong Kong Ltd., also docked at Subic’s Alava Wharf for a day-long stay in Subic.

World Dream, which has a capacity of 3,400 passengers, is listed as the 19th biggest among the cruise ships in operation today.

Eisma said more cruise ships can be expected here, as the Subic agency is undertaking facility development projects to further improve port services, allow the handling of bigger maritime vessels, and boost port income.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma welcomes a passenger from MS Ovation of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, which made its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, June 8. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

She said the SBMA and the national government have allocated a total of P135.8 million for the port infrastructure development program.

“With the completion of these three port projects by next year, we expect to see more attractive and more efficient port facilities, more customers coming in, and more income for the port,” Eisma added.

According to SBMA Tourism Department manager Jem Camba, at least 20 cruise ship arrivals have been calendared here for this year. These include three arrivals each for the month of June, July and August.

A throng of mostly Chinese tourists disembark from MS Ovation of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, which made its maiden port call in the Subic Bay Freeport on Friday, June 8. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

Another Royal Caribbean vessel, the Voyager of the Seas, has been scheduled to arrive here in August.

Camba said that cruise ship arrivals significantly boost local income as cruise ship passengers visit local attractions in Subic, as well as nearby communities in Olongapo City, Zambales, and Bataan.

“Local communities, as well as business establishments in the Freeport, definitely earn a lot from the arrival of cruise ships because the passengers buy local products, eat at restaurants and sample local cuisine, and enjoy themselves at the various tourism establishments in and around Subic Bay Freeport Zone,” she said. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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PAMPANGA, Philippines – The first shipment of the National Food Authority’s (NFA) imported rice has already arrived at Subic Bay Free Port.

It is comprised of 220,000 sacks of rice which is an initial batch from the total of 5 million sacks that the NFA is expecting through government-to-government importation deal.

According to NFA Spokesperson Rex Estoperez, the rice delivery will be distributed to Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales on Tuesday evening, June 5, and after two days, they will be available in markets.

Estoperez said there are also 100 sacks docked at Surigao port while the shipment of the 1.5 million sacks of rice for distribution to Metro Manila markets and nearby provinces is on its way.

Estoperez warned, however, that they will impose fine to exporters if the shipments are not delivered until June 15.

The NFA is expecting a drop in prices of rice once the imported ones are made available in markets.

The imported rice will be retailed at P27 and P37 per kilogram. — Rey Pelayo

source: untvweb.com

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By Butch Gunio

Photo credit: headlinezambales.wordpress.com

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources have launched a seaweed farming project to benefit villagers in Subic, Zambales.

A memorandum of understanding was recently signed here by RP Energy, BFAR Region 3, Subic Bay Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Fisherfolk Association (SBIFARMFA), and the Farm Capital Corporation.

Based on the MOU, two pilot seaweed nurseries in Barangays Cawag and Matain will be set up, which will later be expanded into seaweed farms.

RP Energy will facilitate the establishment of the seaweed nurseries and initiate the social preparation and coordination to two beneficiary organizations Parola Fisherfolk Neighborhood Association and Samahan at Ugnayan ng Mangingisda sa Matain.

SBIFARMA and Farm Capital Corporation’s Weedera brand surveyed locations for the nurseries.

BFAR will take charge of monitoring the nurseries, providing technical assistance, and training members of the beneficiary groups.

Weedera, which currently exports seaweeds to various countries such as Japan, China, and Taiwan, will purchase the seaweeds from the organizations at competitive price.

“This project is very promising, as we have started with the market of the product, something that is usually last to be figured out in other livelihood projects,” said Litz Manuel-Santana, VP and Head of External Affairs of Meralco PowerGen, the majority owner of RP Energy.

RP Energy’s CSR Officer Jason Gavina said that the project is already viable since there is an identified buyer of the produce, which ensures the sustainability and profitability of the livelihood project.

“Our aim is to develop a market-based livelihood program for our beneficiaries and so we partnered with Weedera, a private corporation based in Iloilo, which will be buying all the produce,” Gavina said.

“This is complemented by the technical know-how of our BFAR experts who will assist the groups in setting up the nurseries,” he added.

For his part, Weedera President Neil Huele said, “There is a huge demand for seaweed, especially in Taiwan, China and Japan. In fact, not many Filipinos know that Philippines is the third largest producer of seaweed in the world.”

source: manilastandard.net

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By Mar Supnad

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Alarmed by the increasing number senseless deaths in his province, Governor Abet S. Garcia revealed on Monday that he is set to form groups that will foster a positive outlook in life and a safer community that is free from suicides and drowning incidents.

Goody Ilagan, president of the M/V XGC Express, presents before officials of Bataan, led by Gov. Abet S. Garcia, the operation of a new ferry service between the Port of Orion in Bataan and the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City recently. (Mar T. Supnad) Gov. Abet S. Garcia (Mar T. Supnad)

Garcia bewailed that suicides have become more frequent especially among the youth and want stronger programs to combat mental illness in the province.

“We should form a technical working group on mental health that would monitor the increasing number of suicides and other mental health issues,” Garcia said during a meeting of the Provincial Local Health Board.

The “1Bataan Command Center” may also have a suicide prevention hotline to counsel Bataeños who are depressed or having suicidal thoughts.

Furthermore, Garcia also emphasized the accidental deaths which include drowning especially in the coastal areas in some towns of the province.

Latest data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), showed a total of 50 drowning incidents recorded since 2016.

In order to curb the incidents, Garcia instructed the PDRRMO to educate and train responders and lifeguards especially those in beaches and private resorts.

The Provincial Local Health Board is continuously promoting health programs and campaigns to prolong the life expectancy of each Bataeño.

This is in line with Bataan’s vision that by 2020, the province will have the lowest poverty incidence resulting from quality growth, attaining top-level human development index in the Philippines.

source: news.mb.com.ph

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American Idol 2012 runner-up Jessica Sanchez has expressed interest to have a house inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, an official said.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chair and administrator Wilma T. Eisma said that Sanchez called on her Monday at the administration building.

During their meeting, she said the Mexican-Filipino American artist has expressed plan to find a house inside the freeport zone, saying that the area is a wonderful place to live in.

Eisma welcomed Sanchez’s plan as she also told the artist to treat her like an older sister.

source: centralluzon.politics.com.ph

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