SUBIC BAYFREEPORT—A two-day environment summit was held here this past week to conclude the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) campaign in Zambales and consolidate community efforts in protecting the marine environment in the province.

Story and photos by Henry Empeño / Correspondent

In Photo: Figures made of empty plastic bottles adorn the Subic Bay Freeport waterfront, roving that wastes are simply resources out of place.

Zed Avecilla, ICC Zambales area coordinator, said activities for the summit was scheduled for September 28 and 29 simultaneously at the Ayala Malls Harbor Point Mall and the International School of Sustainable Tourism in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

“The ICCPH Environmental Summit is all about lifting the levels of awareness and inspiring more people to come together and build a legacy of a healthy planet for future generations,” said Avecilla, who is also deputy chief of staff for marine environmental protection of the 111th Squadron of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.

“Although many people helped clean our beaches last week, there is still a lot of work to be done and beach cleanup is not enough,” he said. “We need to strengthen our connection with our environment and realize it is under threat due to indiscriminate human activities and behavior, and an inadequate understanding of its consequences.”

Avecilla explained the environment summit would be part of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month celebration, which aims to enhance the awareness and consciousness of Filipinos on the important features and concerns of the Philippines as a maritime and archipelagic domain.

Volunteers joining the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) drive sort trash collected along the Subic Bay shoreline during the ICC on September 16.

President Duterte signed Presidential Proclamation 316, which declared September as Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month, the day before ICC Day. Avecilla said the speakers during the summit included several young and passionate environmental social entrepreneurs, and experts on waste management and leadership.

The two-day event also featured the screening of two award-winning independent films, Nick and Chai and High Tide in partnership with Active Vista, a human-rights education group that seeks to empower audiences in bringing about relevant social change. Both films tackle contemporary environmental issues.

The environmental summit was organized by the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary 111th Squadron, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, The Lighthouse Marina Resort Legacy Foundation, National Solid Waste Management Council of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the National Coast Watch Council Secretariat.

Avecilla said the event partners wanted to make the call for everybody to take action to conserve the Earth and be responsible citizens of the land.

In September 16 thousands of volunteers in Zambales took part in the global coastal cleanup in response to the call to help protect the marine environment.

Partial results from municipal ICC coordinators in Zambales indicated at least 71,000 participants from eight of the 13 municipalities in the province, with the capital town of Iba registering the biggest delegation at 20,700.

Avecilla said coordinators from five more towns have yet to submit their lists.

The ICC Day is held every third Saturday of September, as declared by Presidential Proclamation 470 signed in 2003 to enjoin Filipinos to observe the global coastal cleanup celebration.

Source:businessmirror.com.ph

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Aeta students, a number of them walking all the way to school in Zambales, will not have to attend their classes barefoot anymore. More than 600 “underprivileged but deserving” students in Olongapo City received recently free pairs of shoes and school supplies under the project of the Taguig City Chapter of the Department of Education-Partnership of Employees and Non-teaching Staff (DepEd-PENS).

Photo by: Mike Ramil Bala?

A total of 627 students from Iram Elementary School were the first recipients of DepEd-PENS’ Opensa Kontra Kakulangan sa Edukasyon (OKKE) project. Each was given three notebooks, one pair of shoes, two pencils, two ballpens, pad papers, and reading materials.

The OKKE, which was launched during its first national convention last August in Baguio City, aims to provide free school supplies to public schools students in remote areas throughout the country. The supplies were put together in donation boxes placed in different public and private schools in Taguig City.

DepEd Office of the School Governance and Operations’ Chief Education Supervisor and DepEd-PENS National President George P. Tizon shared that an Aeta student from Zambales, who has been enthusiastically attending classes even if he was barefooted, inspired them to start the project.

He added that in other provinces, they also saw several students wearing mismatched pairs of slippers and carrying bags with almost nothing inside.

“We’ve seen that despite their unfortunate situation, they are still eager to learn and that’s why we wanted to help them,” Tizon expressed.

Moreover, he stated, the OKKE was also in line with the Taguig City government’s priorities, one of which is education.

Apart from school supplies, public school students in Taguig are given health kits and sets of ready-to-wear uniforms.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairperson and Administrator Atty. Wilma T. Eisma has released a statement regarding her recent appointment.

Her designation to the position came after months of struggle against former Chairman Martin Dino who often clashed with her and other SBMA on matters of the bounds of his authority.

In a letter signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last September 25, then Administrator EISMA was assigned to the Chairperson position as well, effectively pursuing Dino. In addition, an Executive Order (EO 42)  was issued by Malacanan repealing the previous Executive Order (EO 340) which split the position of Administrator and Chairperson into two separate designations.

The full statement can be read below:

“It is a great day of promise for the SBMA and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

With utmost gratefulness and humility, I accept this appointment by President Duterte to head the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority as Chairperson and Administrator, knowing fully well that I am here to help fulfill the mission that the people of Olongapo, Zambales and Bataan have set for themselves 25 years ago.

We all claim this victory as stakeholders of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone who are cognizant of the vision for Subic as a haven for economic production in this part of the globe, and as a progenitor of inclusive growth in this part of the country.

We claim this victory as responsive movers and catalysts of positive change, not only in our individual workplaces, but also in our larger workstation that is the community.

But in claiming this victory, we cannot forget our moorings: We won not because we have remained while others had to go; we won because we have seen a wrong and we decided—together—to set it right.

While the recent months have been trying times, it is clear that these have only made us stronger and firmer in our vision for the SBMA and Subic Bay. We emerged triumphant not only because we were grounded on truth and reason, but because we found strength in a common battle and re-discovered solidarity under a common purpose. If only for these, we have these trying times to thank for—for they brought us back to our rightful place as a united people. Muli, nakita natin na kaya ang lahat kapag sama-sama. Nakita natin na may kakaibang lakas kung may malasakit at pagkaka-isa.

We have today a new beginning for the SBMA and for the Subic Bay community. And as I stand clothed in this title of SBMA Chairperson and Administrator, I again seek the counsel and support of all the people who have made this change possible, for we still have a huge job to do. Subic Bay, after all, is a national resource that must be sustained, lest we all fail in this our great mission. And so we cannot be complacent. We cannot be passive. We cannot rest even a minute in trying to make Subic as productive to investments as it is beneficial to our community.

As SBMA Chairperson and Administrator, I foresee that the task before us could be daunting to ordinary people. But I am confident that our shared passion and common resolve would bring us beyond regular expectations. For after a battle has been won and after victory has been gained, we, the SBMA employees, the investors and workers in the Freeport, and the residents in the greater Subic Bay area, could only go back to where we have started: with our love, and dedication, and passion for this place we call home.

Guided by these values, and with the ample grace of God, I know that we can keep our promise and that we will do well.”

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – In preparation for the military exercise named KAMANDAG 2017 (“Kaagapay ng Mandirigma ng Dagat, a rough translation of which is Partnership of the Warriors of the Sea), the US Marine Corps is currently organizing its equipment at the beach beside the Lighthouse Marina Resort along the Waterfront Road.

The military exercise which is a joint effort between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippines Marines, and the US Marine Corps, will be held at the PCG Headquarters in Manila from October 2 to 11.

The event aims to demonstrate fundamentals in the context on non-traditional security operations in support of humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and counter terrorism operations. It also aims to enhance the participants’ capability in surface insertion, vertical maneuvers, maritime interdiction, and sea-based sustainment.

One of the highlights of the activity is the conduct of the Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) Workshop which will be participated by twenty (20) PCG personnel and twenty (20) Philippine Navy personnel

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1992 The US flag was lowered at Subic Bay for the last time as the US formally handed over the giant naval base to the Philippines. The lights go out in Olongapo fun city outside Subic, as the American Marines pack up to go home.

An aerial view of Subic Bay naval base in Philippines. -Image Credit:Gulf News Archives

The handover signalled the effective end of nearly a century of US military presence in the former colony. Some 150 diplomats and military officials from the two countries presided over the handover.

They have been forced out by the Philippine Senate’s refusal to ratify a new treaty that would have given Washington the base facilities for 10 more years.

The Philippines plans to turn Subic into an industrial zone and is inviting businessmen from Japan and Taiwan to invest. David Krieger Commanding officer of Subic said: “I feel a combination of sadness and expectation. We are ending a tremendous relationship on a day-to-day basis.

I am proud that we are turning over a good military facility”.

Source:m.gulfnews.com

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