Subic EnerZone Corporation (SEZ) inaugurated new 33MVA transformer to increase the capacity of its Remy Field Substation from 20 to 33 MVA.

Engr. Dante Pollescas , SVP and COO (3rd from left),led the riboon cutting for the newly installed 33MVA transformer as replacement to the nearly five decade 20MVA Transformer. also in this photo Engr. Marco Estabillo of SBMA SDA for Port Operations (4th from left) and Engr. Warrel Kern Sario EVP and General Manager (2nd from right).

The new transformer will avoid overloading during single outage scenarios that may result to lower life span of transformer.

The newly installed 33MVA transformer replaces the nearly 5 decade old 20 MVA transformer which was installed during SBMA’s Navy time . This will address the current needs of Subic Bay Freeport Zone increasing demand.

The inauguration and ribbon cutting , was led by Engr. Dante Pollescas , SVP and COO and Engr. Warrel Kern Sario EVP and General Manager.

Source: iorbitnews.comom

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Balanga City, Bataan — This province will be having 200 new fishing boats care of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the first nine of these were already distributed to fishermen last Monday by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The ceremonial turnover of the fishing boats was led by BFAR Director Wilberto Cruz, with Governor Abet S. Garcia receiving the fiberglass boats at the Capitol right after the flag ceremony.

In a short message, Garcia thanked DA Secretary Manny Piñol for granting their request for this package of additional livelihood for Bataan’s fishermen.

According to Provincial Agriculturist Imelda Nieto, 75 boats will be coming from Bataan 2nd District Representative Joet S. Garcia, while another 50 will come from Partylist Rep. Harry Roque.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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SANTA CRUZ, Zambales—Heavy rains and mining woes are back with a vengeance in this town. As rainwater flowed down slopes mined for nickel, siltation resulted in lower areas, like farms, fishponds and even residential areas.

In Photo: Lady driver Jennifer Inting in action

Dr. Benito Molino, chairman of the Concerned Citizens of Santa Cruz, said at least five villages in the municipality have been affected by siltation since the onset of rains last month.

These are the barangays of Lomboy, Guisguis, Tubotubo Norte, Tubotubo South and San Fernando.

In Tubotubo Norte farmers, like Crisanto Corpuz, lamented the flash floods that run down mountain slopes coated their farms with thick nickel deposits. They said nickel would harden on the farm plots, stunt the growth of plants and lead to poor harvest.

The same is true with Eduardo Morano of Barangay Lomboy, who found thick deposits of nickel laterite in his garden.

Fishponds in San Fernando also suffered from nickel pollution, with some water bodies nearby choked by red silt.

In Tubotubo Sur, meanwhile, heavy rains eroded protective dikes and dispersed nickel-laden soil all around.

Residents said this happened because miners, who were required by the Environmental Management Bureau in 2014 to remove nickel deposits on farmlands and build protective dikes, simply dumped the silt nearby, or even used them in constructing dikes.

Molino said mining has greatly impacted the environment and the lives of residents of Santa Cruz.

“Mining has killed the trees in the mountains. It has destroyed water resources and farmlands, too,” he said. “Residents now wonder when would the destruction stop?”

In view of the continuing damages to the community due to mining, Molino said the affected residents are planning to bring their case to Malacañang and petition government officials to stop all mining operations in Santa Cruz.

Source: businessmirror.com.ph

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OLONGAPO CITY, Zambales: About 420 commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the Olongapo City Police Office (OCPO) underwent a surprise mandatory drug testing on Tuesday to check if there are members of the city’s police force who will test positive for the use of illegal drugs.

@PNP.OCPO Facebook page

Police Senior Supt. Melchor Baliuag Cabalza 3rd, newly-assigned city director, said the objective of the drug testing was to show the public that members of the police force are also making an effort to ensure that their ranks are free of drug users.

Cabalza admitted the order also came from the new regional director of the Central Luzon Philippine National Police, Chief Supt. Amador Varela Corpus, who wants police officers and men transferring to new assignments in the region to undergo drug testing.

Cabalza said one policeman failed the drug test the first time it was conducted and he has since been transferred to another assignment in Mindanao. An officer of the Scene of the Crime Laboratory conducting the drug tests said it may take a few days to get all the results as the samples would have to be taken first to Camp Crame–PNP headquarters in Quezon City– and if anyone tests positive, a confirmatory test will be conducted.

Source: manilatimes.net

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The Senate finance subcommittee approved on Tuesday the proposed 2018 budgets of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

photo credit: philstar.com

During the deliberations, BCDA president and chief executive officer Vivencio Dizon bared their priority projects which include the expansion of Clark International Airport, construction of the New Clark City, BGC-NAIA Bus Rapid Transit System, and the Subic-Clark Cargo Railway.

The BCDA is seeking a P6.686 billion budget for 2018, of which P4.017 billion will be allotted for the construction of the New Clark city Access Road.

The New Clark City, according to Dizon, is a 120-hectare one-stop shop land which will be located at the Central Business District.

A 46-hectare Philippine Sports City includes facilities such as athletics and outdoor football stadium, aquatics center and athlete’s village that will be built within the proposed New Clark City.

Dizon emphasized the need for the national government to provide funding for the construction of roads, as the Philippines will be hosting the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019.

He said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has chosen New Clark City as one of the venues for the SEA Games.

Finance subcommittee F chaired by Senator JV Ejercito, who saw “very big potential” over the proposed projects of BCDA, suggested that the agency should also come up with a master plan that will last for at least 20 to 50 years.

“Instead of the 3-year and 6-year plan that based on the political term. Kasi ganon ang nangyari sa atin, wala tayong long term plans so I think this is very exciting and Clark will play a big role in decongesting Metro Manila and other cities,” Ejercito said.

Dizon, for his part, assured that they have a masterplan that is up until 2065.

SBMA Administrator and CEO Atty. Wilma Eisma, for her part, said they are proposing for a P3.548 billion budget for 2018.

Eisma said that they are eyeing to build an SBMA Corporate Center with a total estimated cost of P3.2 billion.

Meanwhile, the following are the proposed projects of SBMA with its estimated cost:

• New Magsaysay bridge – P390,780,000

• Piers And wharves rehabilitation – P2,459,610,000

• Port dredging – P83,389,950

• Building of SBMA/Olongapo Museum – P80,000,000

• Continuous upgrading of the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) Facilities – P45,400,000

• Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) concreting And repair of roads – P489,300,000

Ejercito has also suggested that SBMA should create a long-term master plan.

Ejercito has approved the proposed budget of BCDA and SBMA which will be moved to the Senate plenary for final approval.

Source: gmanetwork.com

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