PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has appointed lawyer Randy B. Escolango as Deputy Commissioner of the Insurance Commission, Department of Finance. Duterte signed Escolango’s appointment on August 23 but released the information, along with other presidential appointees, only on Tuesday, August 29.

Atty. Randy B. Escolango, PhD

“I am overwhelmed by the trust and confidence of President Duterte,” said Escolango, former officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), “something I can only reciprocate with sincere, honest to goodness service that will benefit our country.”

The Insurance Commission is an important government body under the Department of Finance, mandated to regulate and supervise the insurance, pre-need, and HMO industries in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Code, as amended, and Pre-Need Code of the Philippines, among others.

A Deputy Administrator (DA) for Legal Affairs of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Escolango was drawn into the limelight in late 2016 when Malacañang made him Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Administrator of SBMA, which runs the Subic Bay Freeport.

Banking on his more than seven (7) years experience as DA for Legal Affairs that equipped him with excellent knowledge, expertise and grasp in running the day-to-day affairs of SBMA, Escolango earned the respect of both business and labor in the Freeport during his short stint as OIC Administrator.

According to his website www.randyescolango.com, he passed the Philippine Bar Examinations in 2002, after which he began his private practice under his own Escolango Law Office, specializing as a Corporate and Litigation lawyer.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts, Major in Political Science Degree from the New Era University and Bachelor of Laws at Far Eastern University.

In 2010, Escolango completed his Masters in Public Management and in 2014, was conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Administration.

His first stint as a public servant was as clerk at Branch 4 of the Manila Trial Court while taking up law. His love of education also led him to teach law subjects at Gordon College in Olongapo City when he was already a lawyer.

Escolango is expected to officially assume his new post soon, but he has already been in coordination with Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez recently.

Colleagues at SBMA are delighted by Escolango’s appointment.

“President Duterte made a good choice in Atty. Escolango,” said Panfilo S. Jurilla, president of the SBMA Employees Association (SEA), “his track record speaks for itself.”

First Published: subicbaynews.net

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A South Korean-led company has received approval from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for the development of a P3.6-billion golf course and hotel and leisure facilities complex in the Subic Bay Freeport.

By Henry Empeño

In Photo: Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator and CEO Wilma Eisma (third from left) and DM Leisure President Suyong Kim (second from left) sign a lease and development agreement for a P3.6-billion golf course and leisure complex in the Subic Bay Freeport. Signing as witnesses are a senior DM Leisure official and SBMA Director Tomas Lahom III (right).

DM Leisure Corp., a group headed by Hana Tour Philippines President Byung-cheol Kim, has committed to infuse a minimum investment of P3.6 billion for the project that will include the development and operation of a golf course, hotel, water theme parks and other leisure and tourism facilities, as well as the subleasing and sales of villas and condominium units.

SBMA Administrator and CEO Wilma Eisma on Tuesday said the SBMA board of directors has approved the proposal and that she had signed last week a 20-page lease and development agreement for the project with Suyong Kim, president of the
proponent company.

Eisma added the proposed leisure complex will be built in a 200-hectare portion of Subic Freeport’s Tipo Area, which is located at the end of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).

“We expect it to be another grand tourist destination in the region, another magnet for more downline businesses and employment, as well as another distinctive landmark for the evolving Subic Freeport Zone,” Eisma said.

“It will further boost ecotourism in Subic, bolster investment and increase livelihood opportunities in the area,” she added.

She also noted the project will be most accessible because its location would put it within a two-hour drive from Manila via the North Luzon Expressway, and about 45 minutes from Clark Freeport via SCTEx.

The approved project proposal said DM Leisure Corp. will allot P2.6 billion as development commitment out of its minimum investment of P3.6 billion.

The project, scheduled to be completed within eight years or in 2025, will be developed in three phases: An 18-hole golf course and clubhouse in a 120-hectare area for the first phase; hotel, villas and commercial complex in a 67-hectare area for the second phase; and indoor and outdoor water theme parks, other tourism and leisure facilities, and condominium units within a 13-hectare area in the final phase.

The first phase of the project will be finished within two years, or by 2019; the second before the end of 2022; and the third by 2025.

Meanwhile, the project also spells good news for local residents, Eisma said, because DM Leisure will need about 1,000 workers during the construction of the various facilities, and a minimum of 1,000 employees upon project completion to undertake various operations in the leisure complex.

“DM Leisure is among the positive results of our intensified marketing and promotion campaign to convince investors and business communities from our neighbor countries to invest in Subic,” said Eisma, who recently spoke in Philippine investment road shows in Taiwan and Australia.

She added that with the entry of more investors in the Subic Bay Freeport, the SBMA will be working with local government units (LGUs) nearby to start developing light industrial parks and tourism and commercial areas, as demand for bigger spaces rises along with the influx of investments.

Eisma said that, under Executive Order 675, the new investment areas to be created within the nearby communities will become an extension of the Subic Bay Freeport.

The order, which took effect in November 2007, allowed LGUs, through their respective local councils, to declare any part of their jurisdiction as additional secured area of the Subic Bay Special Economic and Freeport Zone, which shall be organized, administered, managed and operated directly by the SBMA.

First Published: businessmirror.com.ph

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Subic Bay Freeport — Business leaders here have shown their support for Senator Richard Gordon’s proposed bill to create an investment corridor in Central and Southern Luzon during the North Luzon Business Conference held here last week.

By Jonas Reyes

Gordon said the proposed bill would extend tax incentives to companies and utilize the area to help ease the traffic currently weighing down the Metro Manila area. He added that this will further ease the congestion of the seaport and airport of Manila.

Members of the Metro Olongapo Chamber of Commerce Inc. (MOCCI), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and other business groups were in unison in expressing readiness to work in support of the creation of the “Regional Investment and Infrastructure Corporation of Central Luzon,” as provided in Senate Bill No. 1325.

Gordon explained that the Regional Investment and Infrastructure Corporation (RIIC) aims to attract more foreign investors by way of having a road network system that will interconnect airports and seaports in Luzon.

He pointed out that Central Luzon is the only region in the country that has three airports like New York, referring to Manila, Clark and Subic.

First Published: news.mb.com.ph
Image source: asianpolicy.press

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: Some 2,557 “endo” or contractual workers referred for regularization by 17 manpower service providers here were recently absorbed by their respective companies in compliance with the Department of Labor and Employment order, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s (SBMA) Labor Department said in a report.

A memo received by SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma dated August 16, 2017, stated that Sushicor, a subcontractor of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines, referred a total of 1,219 workers from its six manpower subcontractors for regularization, among them: AJB Construction Services and Supply,380 workers; Rocafor General Construction Services, 310; Junior General Services, 292; Seawolf Airconditioning Contractors Inc,126; SR Marine, 80 and IRDG Engineering Services and Supply, 31.

Jeannies Touch Manpower Solutions Inc. referred 50 contractual workers to Nidec and 300 to Juken Sangyo for regularization.

A total of 422 workers, on the other hand, were referred by Powerlane to Lindberg, 150 as regulars; 120 to Nidec; 97 absorbed by Sanyo Denki; 42 to Mang Inasal and 13 by Yellow Cab Pizza.

Similarly, 103 workers referred by Sameer Global Manpower Services, Inc. for regularization were absorbed by Datian Shoes; 36 by Hitachi Airconditioning; seven were taken in by Kewen and five to Ropali referred.

Ocean Adventure also absorbed 20 workers referred for regularization by its manpower service provider, Total Staffing Skills.

Thirty-six contractual workers were referred by Buchan Global Services Co. to its clients Lighthouse Marina, Chia Hung and Subicwater.

The SCCD Corp., on the other hand, recommended for regularization 20 workers toTrident, 10 to Lindberg and 16 to Ringsthree.

A total of 78 workers were referred by Executive Genesis for regularization with Hokei taking in 40; Glarfab, 20; Espresso,15 and Steelfab, three.

Also 33 workers from service provider Dictado were absorbed by Meatplus. Of the 38 referred by Sol Manpower, 28 were taken in by Crese, eight by Ringsthree and two were absorbed by Lighthouse.

AZ Contracting System Service, Inc. referred 55 for regularization to Nicera, Cresc and Koushin; Koryo absorbed 50 workers; Materion Advanced Materials hired seven and Trident hired one from manpower service provider Nozomi.

First Published: manilatimes.net

Image source: skyscrapercity.com

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently approved the takeover by a new company of the debt-ridden property previously leased out to the Lyceum of Subic Bay, Inc. (LSBI), saying the agreement provided for a “win-win” solution for the Subic agency to collect more than PHP31 million in overdue rent payments and other arrears.

By Patrick Roxas

Lyceum of Subic

SBMA administrator and chief executive officer Wilma T. Eisma said a resolution approved by the SBMA Board of Directors last Aug. 10 allowed the LSBI to assign its leasehold rights to Premium Technical Training and Facilities, Inc. (PTTFI), which shall assume its financial obligations and continue with the development commitments under its lease.

This was made possible by the withdrawal of the company from coverage of the SBMA policy granting educational institutions a 75% discount in rentals, which are supposed to be plowed back by the schools to scholarship programs and facilities improvement.

The reassignment covered the 34,196sqm Lyceum campus at Subic’s Cubi-Triboa District, which had PHP23 million in rentals and utility fees arrears, as well as some PHP16.68 million in unpaid accounts left by its previous operator, Global Daeil Subic, Inc.

The agreement also required LSBI to pay its debts for another school campus it operates at Subic’s Central Business District (CBD).

Initially, the company paid the SBMA PHP31 million for its arrears, and issued checks to cover outstanding obligations for both the Cubic and CBD campuses.

“As far as we can see, this is a win-win solution to a problem which has been hounding the SBMA since October 2015 when it pre-terminated the contract of Global Daeil over the Cubi property,” Eisma said.

“SBMA repossessed the property in January last year and later awarded it to Lyceum, which had the best business model. But unfortunately, Lyceum was not able to operate immediately and market the business properly because of some issue with the previous occupant, so we had a problem that compounded itself over time,” Eisma added.

“But now, with this amendment to the lease and development agreement for Lyceum’s Cubi campus, we finally have a solution that is favorable to all the parties involved,” she said.

Beatrix Anagaran, manager of the SBMA General Business and Investment Department, said the approved amendment to Lyceum’s lease and development agreement was “overwhelmingly beneficial to the SBMA” because it called for an increase in monthly rent from the discounted rate of PHP1.22 million to the appraised-value rate of PHP4 million.

Anagaran pointed out the agreement also provided for an increase in escalation rate from 2% per annum starting on the third year to 6% per annum starting on the second year.

“With Premium Technical taking over the Cubi property, the company will also pay an assignment share to the SBMA, undertake Lyceum’s development commitments, provide additional employment, and continue to honor the scholarship commitments made by Lyceum, with the number of scholars remaining the same,” Anagaran said.

She added that the new operator has also committed to put up a business process outsourcing (BPO) facility at the Cubi campus, as well as a modern training laboratory.

Premium Technical, which is 30% owned by LSBI, has also committed to honor the payment of arrears of Global Daeil with a three-year amortization schedule for the PHP16-million debt of the previous operator.

It has likewise retained LSBI’s committed investment of PHP50 million to PHP100 million, a committed employment of 180 workers, and a development commitment of PHP10 million to PHP20 million, and the provision of 36 scholarship grants per year.

First Published: subicsun.com

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