MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is implementing a motorist assistance program dubbed “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” along its expressways during the Halloween break.

By Ramon Efren Lazaro With Louella Desiderio

photo by: update.ph

The program is seen to enhance traffic management and speed up toll collection.

Personnel of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) will extend their working hours to monitor and manage the expected heavy volume of vehicles at the Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Bocaue, Sta. Ines, Tarlac and Tipo toll plazas from Oct. 27 to Nov. 6.

Additional patrol and incident response teams will be deployed to assist motorists.

During peak hours from Oct. 27 to 31 and Nov. 1, additional toll collection booths will be opened and portable booths will be deployed at the Bocaue, Mindanao Ave-nue and Tarlac toll plazas.

More traffic and security personnel will also be deployed to manage the flow of traffic and assist motorists along the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX). Ambulant tellers will be on standby to facilitate toll transactions.

The MPTC said road works along NLEX and SCTEX would be suspended starting Oct. 27 and would resume after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit on Nov. 16.

Along CAVITEX, major road works will be suspended from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2.

MPTC and its partners will also provide free phone calls, Wi-Fi, drinking water, basic mechanic services and first aid treatment in designated areas along the expressways.

Source: philstar.com/

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Ilang minuto bago mag alas sais ng umaga noong Sabado, Oct 21, nang ihudyat ang pagsisimula ng ikaapat na Million Volunteer Run ng Philippine Red Cross Olongapo Chapter.

By: Lolito Go

Sa kabila ng ulan at pabugso-bugsong hangin, hindi nagpaawat ang mahigit sa 2,000 volunteers na nagparehistro sa 2K at 3K run ng pinakamalaking humanitarian run sa buong bansa.

Bago pormal na simulan ang naturang volunteer run nagkaroon muna nang isang warmup program sa harap ng isang mall na nagsilbi ring assembly area para sa naturang aktibidad.

Ang Million Volunteer Run ay isang simultaneous nationwide non-competitive Humanitarian Run na layuning makapangalap ng karagdagang pondo para sa mga adhikain ng Red Cross.

Isang araw bago ang volunteer run, nagsagawa rin ng isang mobile blood donation ang PRC Olongapo sa tulong ng Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce.

Source: Subic Broadcasting Corporation @ Facebook

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Subic Bay Freeport – Two Russian vessels arrived here on Sunday to deliver the donated military equipment as part of the growing partnership between Russia and the Philippines under the Duterte administration.

By Jonas Reyes

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE — Parked and ready to roll out are these Ural 4320 military trucks donated by Russia shown at the Subic Bay Freeport on Sunday. Each of these 20 Ural trucks are loaded with high-powered rifles and bullets donated by Moscow in support of President Duterte’s thrust to battle all forms of threats to security in the Philippines.

This is the third visit of the Russian naval fleet in Duterte’s term. The Russian Alligator-class Landing Ship 081 “Nikolai Vilkov” and the salvage tug “Foty Krylov” docked at the Alava Wharf and unloaded the donated Ural 4320 military trucks.

The 20 Ural trucks were loaded with 5,000 high-powered rifle and one million bullets that were also donated by Moscow. Road users of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) were left in awe after seeing the Ural trucks rolling down the road beside them yesterday.

According to Russia’s Pacific Fleet spokesman Captain 2nd Rank Nikolai Voskresensky, a group of the Pacific Fleet’s big anti-submarine vessels consisting of Admiral Vinogradov and Admiral Panteleyev as well as of the large sea tanker Boris Butoma docked in Manila.

Voskresensky said that the visit takes place as part of the program on the development of international military cooperation.

During the visit of the Russian warships to Manila, Philippine officials, foreign diplomats and local residents will be allowed to take a tour of the large anti-submarine vessel Admiral Panteleyev.

Russia’s visiting naval crew and local navy representatives are also scheduled for friendly sports games, such as football and volleyball, and the Russian guests will also enjoy tourist tours in Manila.

The visit of the Russian Pacific Fleet’s warships to the capital of Philippines is scheduled to last until Thursday.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has waived the $200 accreditation fee for all port-related businesses for a limited period as part of its efforts to turn Subic into a major transhipment center in the country.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said port users could avail of the free accreditation program if they will guarantee to bring in at least one container within one month from filing of application or renewal of accreditation certificate.

SBMA Chairperson and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma meets with PBC Chairman Jose Leviste Jr. (left) and PCCI President George T. Barcelon at the SBMA booth during the 43rd Philippine Business Conference and Expo at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday. The SBMA launched the “#GoSubicBay” open access program for container port-related businesses at the PBC exposition.

The offer is good from October 18 to December 31, 2017 only.

With the hashtag #GoSubicBay, the SBMA began offering its open-window access initiative for container port-related businesses during the 43rd Philippine Business Conference and Exposition at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday.

Eisma said the agency’s port marketing program aims to showcase and broaden industry awareness of the use of the container terminal at the Port of Subic, as well as increase container port traffic and utilization rate.

“Subic Freeport has a faster turnaround time, there’s no red tape, has reduced processing time, no congestion, no traffic and no truck ban,” she told prospective port users during the program launch.

Eisma also pointed out that vessels using the Port of Subic can immediately dock upon their arrival, and gain from Subic’s built-in advantages of lower tariff and higher efficiency with ISO quality service by the SBMA.

“The hashtag #GoSubicBay actually has two meanings: first, it is an invitation to go to Subic Bay to use our port facilities, and second, it is a clarion call to let the industry know that the Port of Subic is ready to serve their businesses,” Eisma explained.

Eisma added that the SBMA’s port marketing program would also help decongest the Port of Manila and accommodate small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in pursuance of the agency’s commitment to promote inclusive business (IB).

SBMA Seaport Promotions Manager Ronnie Yambao said that under the SBMA’s open window access program, the agency will waive the $200 accreditation fee for the first 80 new business entrants and the first 20 accredited entities due for renewal of accreditation certificate.

The promotion covers ship agents, freight forwarders, brokerage firms and trucking services related to container movement.

Yambao stressed, however, that failure by applicants to guarantee the entry of at least one container would cause the Port of Subic to require the payment of the $200 accreditation fee.

Yambao also assured port users of the quality of service at the Port of Subic, pointing out that container port here is managed by the Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation (SBITC).

The SBITC, he added, is an affiliate of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), which is acknowledged as one of the best port management firms in the world. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

Source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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Two Russian and four American naval ships are now docked in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The Alligator-class landing ship Nikolay Vilkov, alongside one of Russia’s most powerful tugboat and icebreaker Fotiy Krylov are now docked at the Rivera Pier.

Russia’s Alligator-class landing ship the Nikolay Vilkov docked at the Rivera Pier in the Subic Bay Freeport. (photo c/o Mocking_Dyey’s Instagram)

The two are among five navy ships that have arrived in the Philippines to deliver military equipment donated by Russia, a statement from the Philippine Navy said. The Russian vessels will be staying at the port of Subic until October 25.

No details were available about the types of equipment donated, but President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier said Russia would provide 5,000 assault rifles to the Philippines.

The equipment has come ahead of a visit by Russia’s top defense official to the Philippines to sign a security deal.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu will be joining next week’s meeting of 10 Southeast Asian defense ministers with counterparts from eight other countries, including the US, Russia and China, in the Philippines.

The USNS Fall River docked at the Alava Pier

Four naval ships of the United States also arrived in the Freeport Saturday – Expeditionary fast transports USNS Millinocket (T-EPF-3) and USNS Fall River (T-EPF-4), as well as the USNS Salvor (T-ARS-52) are now docked at the Alava Pier, while the replenishment oiler USNS Pecos is at anchorage in Subic Bay.

As seen along Waterfront Road: The USNS Millinocket docked just behind the USNS Fall River, with Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Sirius berthed behind it at the Alava Pier of the Subic Bay Freeport.

Also docked at the Alava Pier is the replenishment ship HMAS Sirius of the Royal Australian Navy.

Source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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