THE SUBIC Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), on last Thursday’s Board meeting, has given Lyceum of Subic Bay, Inc. (LSBI) until Friday, August 18, 2017, to pay over P43 M it owes the agency.

“We gave Lyceum of Subic one week to pay in full what it owes SBMA, by Friday,” SBMA Director Benny Antiporda said, “or else risk possible sanctions that may include cancellation of its Certificate of Registration and Tax Exemption (CRTE).”

Documents obtained by Subic Bay News show that on July 12, 2017, SBMA issued a Notice of Default against Lyceum of Subic addressed to Alfonso E. Borda, president & CEO, giving it 30 days or until Aug. 13, 2017, to correct its deficiencies.

The outstanding obligation of Lyceum of Subic stems from unpaid lease rentals, Common Use Service Area (CUSA) fees and other charges on the 3.4-hectare former American International School of Subic (AIS) campus in Upper Cubi and Lot 73, Central Business District, Rizal Highway, across Harbor Point Mall.

In February 15, 2017, then already deep in debt to SBMA, Borda wrote Administrator Wilma T. Eisma seeking a “six (6) month extension… for the payment of its dues.”

“The facility has yet to continue undergoing massive construction, renovations and repairs, to be on top shape for its full operation this coming academic year,” Borda told Eisma.

On March 27, 2017, Eisma responded to Borda’s letter, denying the latter’s request for extension.

“We regret to inform you that we cannot accede to your requests,” Eisma told Borda, “please note that the lease over the …facility was awarded on the basis of a competitive evaluation process which took into account the financial offers and development commitment proposals of competing proponents.”

Eisma also warned Borda “we have received reports that even though the facility is not yet fully operational, LSBI (Lyceum) is operating the rooms of the former Legenda Suites as a dormitory and for short term rentals to some Chinese nationals despite the fact that said activity is not part of the approved purpose of the lease and intended use of the facility.” (read related story at http://subicbaynews.net/?p=14578)

Eisma cited that among other concessions, “said lease was eventually awarded to LSBI by reason of the latter’s offer to pay the monthly financial obligations after a six (6) months grace period (which already lapsed on 3 August 2016) in conjunction with the LSBI’s representation that it shall introduce developments on the facility at the minimum renovation cost of Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000) within one (1) year from the commencement of the lease (which period already lapsed on 3 February 2017).”

Then SBMA Chairman & Administrator Roberto V. Garcia (right) with Alfonso Borda (left) of Lyceum of Subic Bay during the turn-over of the former American International School (AIS). Garcia allowed the take-over of Lyceum in April 2016 despite the lack of payment of the required security deposit and advance rentals in the amount of P9.8M. Instead, Borda used, and SBMA accepted, a check which bounced on May 4, 2016. It took a partner, the APG International Aviation Academy, after two weeks of SBMA inaction, to pay the P9.8M, saving the day for the now still beleaguered Lyceum of Subic Bay.

In November 2015, SBMA, under then Chairman & Administrator Roberto V. Garcia, after rejecting a proposed payment scheme, terminated the lease of Global Daeil Subic, Inc., operator of AIS in the former Legenda Suites, for a mere P16.5M debt, despite advanced rentals and security deposits of some P14M.

In early 2016, Garcia awarded the 3.4 ha. property, the six (6) buildings on it composed of former hotel rooms turned classrooms, a Cafeteria and an auditorium, and everything in them, to Borda, his former co-employee in a private company in Metro-Manila.

Records show Lyceum of Subic offered to lease the property for some P2.4M a month, but after six (6) months, the rent would be lowered to P1.2M a month, on top of a grace period of six (6) months free use before starting payments.

Lyceum also committed to infuse a minimum of P10M in development on the property on its first year of operations and pay the unpaid rentals of Global Daeil and the unpaid salaries of its displaced teachers.

Aside from Lyceum of Subic, other entities submitted proposals, including a faction of the former leaseholder Global Daeil, which committed to “pay the unpaid rentals, teachers’ salaries, and development worth $2M (P100M),” among others, at the same monthly rates.

Edupia, a Korean company, committed a proposal similar to Global Daeil’s, but with an attached Korean bank certificate equivalent to P80M, with another bank certificate coming for P20M, as proof to support its P100M first year development commitment.

Like Edupia, Westbridge International School also committed to pay the unpaid rentals, displaced employees’ salaries and submitted bank certificates as proof of funds with the total amount of some P58 M.

However, only Lyceum of Subic’s proposal was taken up by the SBMA’s Accounts Evaluation Committee, which submitted a favorable report to the Garcia-led SBMA Board that apparently turned a blind eye on what appeared as unfair treatment of the other proposals.

As of July 2017, aside from the total of some P43M pesos, Lyceum of Subic also owes SBMA another over P4M in rentals for the various equipment and furniture of AIS, which were not factored in in the computation because SBMA’s Procurement & Property Management Department (PPMD) did not report Borda’s refusal to pay, nor sign the Property Accountability Receipt, for the movable properties. (read related story at http://subicbaynews.net/?p=16938)

Antiporda said Lyceum may be able to continue to operate if it makes good its promise to pay all its debt to SBMA by Friday.

Eisma was not present in last Thursday’s SBMA Board Meeting, which decided to give Lyceum of Subic another week to comply after its Notice of Default has expired.

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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Kabilang ang Olongapo City sa mga apektadong lugar na niyanig ng 6.1 magnitude na lindol na nakasentro sa bayan ng Lian, Batangas nitong August 11 sa ganap na 1:28 ng hapon.

Ilan sa mga naapektuhan ay ang mga estudyante mula sa St. Joseph College na kinailangang dalhin sa St. Jude Hospital para mabigyan ng pangunahing lunas sa tulong na rin ng mga ilang opisyal ng paaralan at barangay.
Apektado rin ang mga mag-aaral ng Gordon College na mabilisan namang isinugod sa James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital dahil sa panic attack.
Samantala, sa hiwalay na panayam sa Teacher-in-Charge ng Tapinac Senior High School na si Mrs. Corazon Dumlao, ay napansin nila ang mga ilang hinihinalang bitak sa bagong gusali na mahigit isang taon pa lamang naiti-turn-over sa kanila. Napansin nila ang diumanong bitak pagtapos na maganap ang nasabing pagyanig.
Kagyat naman nilang kinuha ang atensyon ng City Engineer para suriin ang epekto ng lindol sa integridad ng gusaling pamparaalan. Sa kasalukuyan ay hihintayin nila ang magiging opisyal na pahayag ng mga kinauukulan patungkol sa hinihinalang mga bitak sa ikalawa at ikatlong palapag ng istruktura.

First Published: Subic Broadcasting Corporation @ Facebook

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Aeta tribal elder Dominador Liwanag, more popularly known as Tata Kasoy, was presented with an award and certificate of appreciation for his “lifetime work in preserving the rain forest and culture” at the recent Subic Ecotourism Festival.

In Photo: Tribal leader Dominador Liwanag (from left), Hitesh Mehta and Dr. Mina T. Gabor.

The 67-year-old leader of the Pastolan tribe at the Subic free port’s Pamulaklakin Trail serves as instructor of the jungle environmental survival training (JEST) course offered to tourists and American servicemen who undergo military exercises in the former US naval base.

Presenting the citation is International School of Sustainable Tourism President Mina Gabor and Global Ecotourism Network (GEN) board member and Ecolodge planning and design authority Hitesh Mehta. Gabor, who pioneered ecotourism in the country when she was tourism secretary, said that it was the first time such an award had been given to a tribal leader in the Philippines.

The four-day festival featured resource persons from the GEN, the Asian Ecotourism Network, and the country’s leading advocates from both the private and government sectors to discuss the global trends in ecotourism. The first of its kind in the Philippines, the four-day event also discussed highlights of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) through a presentation from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in the practice of ecotourism.

A landmark social legislation passed in 1997, the IPRA protects the indigenous peoples’ rights to ancestral lands, self-governance and empowerment, social justice and human rights, and cultural integrity.

Other global ecotourism resource persons included Glenn Jampol and Tony Charters, GEN chairman and vice chairman respectively, and general board members Robert Holmes, Masaru Takayama, Nabil Tarazi, Albert Teo, ASSOB International Australia CEO Paul Niederer, Sapa O’Chau (Vietnam) founder and Director Tan Thi Su, Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil, Mahidol University International College Assistant Dean Kaetwa Muangasame, Bond Asian Ventures Ltd. Chairman Greg Duffel, Indecon Indonesia Director Ary Suhandi, and Global Sustainable Tourism Council CEO Randy Durband.

The event was attended by local government officials and tourism officers, tourism policy-makers, community organizations, tourism establishment owners, the academic community and industry stakeholders. The festival is supported by the Tourism Promotions Board, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Philippine Airlines, PLDT Subictel, Nlex-SCTEx, Steep Coffee, Lighthouse Marina Resort, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Cebu Provincial Tourism Office.

First Published: businessmirror.com.ph/a>

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U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) Michael Klecheski transferred custody of a brand new Joint Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center (JMLETC) valued at over Php 65.4 million to the Government of the Philippines in a ceremony in Magarwak, Barangay Santa Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, on August 4, 2017.

(front row L-R) PNP Director General Ronald M. de la Rosa, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Klecheski, U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency Representative LCDR Jeremy Obenchain, PNP-MG Director General PCSUPT Marcelo C. Morales, and WESCOM Commander Lieutenant General Raul L. Del Rosario (back row L-R) Commander Philippine Coast Guard District Palawan Commodore Joselito F. de la Cruz, Philippine Marine Corps 3rd Marine Brigade Commander Brigadier General Nathaniel Y. Casem, Deputy Director for Logistics PCSUPT Jonas B. Calleja, and Regional Director of PRO4B PCSUPT Wilben M Mayor.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald M. de la Rosa was the guest of honor and keynote speaker, and DCM Klecheski also delivered remarks during the turnover.

The JMLETC, funded by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, is part of the larger National Coast Watch System and is designed to bolster the Philippines’ maritime domain awareness capabilities and to stop large-scale weapons from transiting through or near Philippine territorial waters. The facility will also be used to conduct maritime law enforcement training for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Navy (PN), and PNP to enhance vessel boarding, use of force, evidence preservation, and case package preparation techniques.

In the coming weeks, the U.S. Coast Guard will send a team of maritime law enforcement experts who will conduct a one-week Maritime Law Enforcement workshop with PCG, PN, and PNP. This workshop will focus on sharing best practices and enhancing the interoperability among the three participating agencies in support of the National Coast Watch System 2017 Field Training Exercises scheduled to take place in Manila, Palawan, and Cebu in mid-September.

As strong allies, the U.S. and Philippines share a wide range of interests, and we will continue to work in partnership to ensure our joint maritime security efforts and other lines of cooperation are robust and effective. (USEmbassy/Manila)

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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IBA, Zambales — “For the municipality of Iba, we are one with the nation and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in pursuit of peace and security, prosperity, and socio-cultural development.”

Mayor Rudnstedt Ebdane

Mayor Rudnstedt Ebdane said in his speech during the ASEAN Landmark Lighting on Tuesday night at the municipal hall. Marking the 50th founding anniversary of the ASEAN, over 70 other municipalities and cities simultaneously lit up their lanterns at exactly 7:00PM. Iba was one of the municipalities chosen to participate in the event.

According to Ebdane, the landmark lighting symbolizes ASEAN’s important role as the light that guides the path of the member-countries.

“Out of the hundreds of local government units (LGUs) in the country, we are chosen to take part in the ASEAN’s golden anniversary. Let us continue to be partners for change,” he furthered.Aside from Iba, five other LGUs in Central Luzon participated in the event namely Baler in Aurora; Science City of Munoz in Nueva Ecija; City of San Fernando in Pampanga; Angeles City; and Mayantoc in Tarlac. (PIA 3)

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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