The Bureau of Customs (BoC) said it opened on June 1 a one-stop-shop (OSS) trade facility at the Tipo, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) gate, which reduces a one-day processing time of documents to only four hours.

The facility includes personnel from Customs Enforcement, Customs Clearance, and X-ray equipment to cater to clients’ needs, especially port users.

BoC opens One Stop Shop at Subic Bay

The OSS facility bureau is seeking to replicate the current one-stop-shop at the New Container Terminal 1 in Port of Subic which was first constructed by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. with the BoC and SBMA in 2015.

“The OSS promotes ease of doing business where BoC stakeholders can switch between counters in processing BoC requirements,” the bureau said.

Due to this, port users no longer need to travel to various government offices to secure their trade documents.

The BoC estimates that the average one-day processing time of documents will be reduced to four hours.

“With the BoC-OSS, importers and brokers can expect shorter document and cargo processing times, thereby improving the overall processing efficiency at the Port of Subic,” the statement read.

The BoC and the Department of Finance has been making moves to reduce red tape in trade facilitation.

Currently, the Department of Finance (DoF) is pilot testing the system called TradeNet, a computerized internet-based system, which will be able to connect Philippines’ single window of trade-related agencies with neighboring countries, as it rationalizes and harmonizes all of trade data for faster processing.

This is because traders, who are required to secure permits from various government agencies before importing or exporting products, may be able to lodge all the necessary documents at a single window.

The DoF expects the system to be rolled out in September.

First Published: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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A global cruise vacation company that operates in more than 500 destinations on all the seven continents is now eyeing the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as a regular cruise itinerary for its growing Asian market.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Wilma Eisma said the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), which owns and operates three global brands, had sent its Vice President for New Business Development John Tercek to assess Subic’s readiness as a cruise ship destination.

Oasis of the Seas, one the cruise ships operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., is said to have revolutionized cruising because of its ground-breaking design that includes seven distinct neighborhoods.

“The Subic Freeport is now ready to meet the demands of the cruise tourism market, as we have been successful in this regard past when cruise ships like Clipper Odyssey, Spirit of Adventure, and the Hanseatic came to Subic,” Eisma said.

“But now we could be looking at a regular schedule by Royal Caribbean, so we’re really excited with this prospect,” she added.

Tercek, who was accompanied by officials of the Department of Tourism on his July 1-2 visit in Subic, said the RCCL is catering to 2 million Chinese cruise passengers per year and is now developing new market destinations.

“If ready, we are considering the Subic Freeport as one of the nearest stops from Southern China to help address the cruise market demand,” he added.

Tercek made an ocular inspection of Alava Wharf here and received a briefing from Eisma on the heritage and history of Subic as a former naval base and one of the most successful cases of military base conversion in the world. He was also updated on tourism business potentials in Subic, as well as neighboring communities in Central Luzon.

Tercek told Eisma during the visit that Subic has all the elements necessary for a cruise ship destination.

“I can see the potential of Subic Freeport as a conventional cruise ship destination,” he said. “But as we build bigger ships, you have to step up to address the demand.”

Tercek said if the port facilities are ready, the RCCL usually starts with five ship calls per year for a destination with 3,000 to 5,000 passengers each. In the case of Subic, where there is good weather from November to April, however, it will be possible to have from five up to 30 ship calls, he added.

Tercek, who has created shore-side infrastructure projects and ventures to support RCCL’s strategic growth objectives, likewise reminded SBMA and DOT officials that as the cruise industry starts to build bigger ships, “you have to prepare your port facilities to meet the market demand.”

He added that RCCL looks forward to supporting infrastructure development that will compliment cruise tourism development in Subic, just like what they did in Vietnam.

Tercek, who was a partner in a Wall Street real estate investment firm, now leads in the development and management of RCCL’s interests in ports and commercial facilities around the world and is in charge of determining the viability of the frim’s deployment in the region, as well as investment opportunities for cruise-related facilities and services.

As a global cruise vacation company, RCCL owns and operates three global brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. It also has interests in the German brand TUI Cruises, the Spanish brand Pullmantur, and the SkySea cruises.

First Published: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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Olongapo City— Alas 5:20 ng umaga nang makatanggap ng tawag ang BFP Olongapo tungkol sa isang sunog na sumiklab sa Caron St. Brgy West Bajac-Bajac, Olongapo City.

Ulat ni Lolito Ramada Go

Sa panayam ng SBC news kay BFP Chief Inspector Roy Quisto, napag-alamang dalawang residential property ang apektado ng naturang sunog na nagsimulang sumiklab sa isang bahay na pagmamay-ari ni G. Maria Yang. Kasama ring nadamay ang isang 9 units apartment structure na pagmamay-ari naman ng isang Fernando Julian. Sa paunang imbestigasyon lumalabas na gawa sa light material ang naturang mga kabahayan kaya’t mabilis na kumalat ang apoy. Gayunpaman mabilis din itong naapula ng pinagsamang pwersa ng mga pamatay-sunog mula sa BFP Olongapo, SBMA Fire Rescue at Sta. Rita Fire Rescue and Response Unit. Ala sais kinse nang maideklarang fire under control at alas sais kwarenta naman ng tuluyang ideklarang fire out ang naturang sunog.
Patuloy pa rin ang isinasagawang imbestigasyon ng mga otoridad upang matukoy ang pinagmulan ng sunog at ang tinatayang halaga ng pinsala. Wala namang napaulat na namatay o nasaktan sa naturang insidente.

First Published: Subic Broadcasting Corporation @ Facebook

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Isang malakas at mahabang hiyaw ng sirena ang naging hudyat ng pagsisimula ng national simultaneous earthquake drill na isinagawa sa Olongapo City Elementary School, noong Miyerkules ganap na alas dos ng hapon.

Ulat ni Lolito Ramada Go

Tinatayang umabot sa 3,000 mag-aaral mula sa nabanggit na paaralan ang nagsipag-duck cover and hold, bilang bahagi ng paghahanda sa sakuna ng lindol.
Ang naturang pagsasanay ay bahagi ng national simultaneous earthquake drill bilang obserbasyon sa National Disaster Resiliency month na isinasagawa tuwing buwan ng Hunyo.
Ayon kay G. Daniel Lacuata, school coordinator ng naturang programa, umabot lamang ng 3 mins 59 secs bago tuluyang ma-evacuate ng mga bata ang buong eskwelahan. Nasunod din lahat ng mga evacuation plans na tulong-tulong na inensayo ng mga guro at mag-aaral.
Samantala, pinuri naman ni G. Carlo Elepongga, Research and Planning Officer ng CDRRMO, ang naging disiplina ng mga bata at ang ipinakitang kasanayan ng mga guro.
Dagdag pa ni Elepongga, mahalagang maging handa ang lahat sa sakuna ng lindol, lalo pa’t nakaranas ang Olongapo at lalawigan ng Zambales ng serye ng mga pagyanig nitong mga nakaraang buwan.

First Published: Subic Broadcasting Corporation

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Sa ikatlong pagkakataon ay isinagawa ang taunang Arbor Day sa Subic Bay na dinaluhan ng mga volunteers na kinabibilangan ng mga SBMA employees, civil society groups at lokal na pamahalaan ng Olongapo nitong Biyernes ng Umaga, June 23.

Ulat ni Lolito Go

Ikatlong taon ng Arbor Day sa Subic Bay, dinagsa ng daan-daang volunteers

Ang taunang tree-planting activity ay nag-originate sa Nebraska USA at isinabatas sa Pilipinas sa bisa ng Republic Act 10176 o ang Arbor Day Act of 2012.
Nagsimula ang palatuntunan sa isang maikling programa sa harap ng Bldg 229 sa Waterfront Road na agad namang sinundan ng isang motorcade patungong reforestation site sa Mount Sta Rita, Subic Bay Freeport Zone kung saan mahigit sa 5,000 saplings at seedlings ng iba’t ibang uri ng puno ang tulong-tulong na itinanim.
Nakiisa rin sa selebrasyong ito ang mga stakeholder sa SBMA, mga estudyante at mga miyembro ng Philippine Coast Guard.
Ayon naman sa Social Development Division ng SBMA Ecology Center, umabot sa 920 katao ang naitalang dumalo sa nasabing aktibidad.
Lubos naman ang pasasalamat ni SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma sa lahat ng dumalo at inaasahan nyang taun-taon ay mas dadami pa ang bilang ng mga volunteer na may malasakit sa kalikasan.

First Published: Subic Broadcasting Corporation @ Facebook

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