SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Despite the delay caused by typhoon Mangkhut to this year’s cleanup activity, an impressive amount of volunteers showed up today at the Waterfront Boardwalk for the International Coastal Cleanup 2018 (ICC 2018). The activity, which was originally scheduled for last September 15 had to be postponed due to the torrential rain and strong winds caused by the typhoon. 

Subic Bay’s shoreline before the cleanup activity, which had to be postpones due to Typhoon Mangkhut

Spearheaded by ICC-Zambales, and lead by their head coordinator Zedrick T. Avecilla, the International Coastal Cleanup has long brought together thousands of individuals to clean Subic Bay’s shoreline. Looked forward to as one of the most important community activity in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, ICC 2018 is a salutation to the Freeport’s agenda of sustainable development

Now in its ninth year, the Coastal Cleanup’s advocacy of collecting as much trash and plastic from the shoreline is still going on strong as evidenced by the army of volunteers who showed up today. Armed with their garbage bags and cleaning implements, they fanned out across every inch of the Waterfront shore.

The day started early for the MoreFun PH team. The staff gathered at the MoreFun office in the small hours of the morning to prepare for the day’s activities. In addition to garbage bags, gloves, and tools; we also made sure to bring our hats, sunblock, water bottles, and of course, snacks.

We were gladdened to see that all participants displayed enduring enthusiasm as they walked for hours along Subic Bay’s shores gathering as much plastic and trash as they can. The volunteers were composed of people from all walks of life: students from local schools, officials from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, employees from Freeport locators, local government units, and both foreign and local residents.

ICC 2018’s volunteers spans across all ages, gender, and race.

Admittedly, it was not only difficult physically but also mentally, especially seeing that year after year, the mission to rid our shores of trash seem to be an endless task but the mere fact that thousands of volunteers essentially gave up their weekend every year to pick up other people’s garbage was an encouraging fact.

In today’s landscape of negative headlines, the sight of citizens joining each other in an effort to keep our environment trash free is inspiring to behold. Each plastic debris that they pick up from the beach means less harmful chemicals harm wildlife, emit toxins into the environment, and disrupt the food chain.

As the official media partner for ICC 2018, we would like to thank everybody who participated in the cleanup. May we all embody the spirit of volunteerism and environmental awareness each and every day.

Help us spread the word about our advocacy to keep Subic Bay clean by joining our team (PLEDGE NOW). Join the discussion in our website (MoreFun.ph) and contribute in deliberating solutions for dealing with waste in our waterways.

Let’s all see each other again at the International Coastal Cleanup Summit 2018 in a few weeks. 

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The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is a global movement celebrated every 3rd Saturday of September yearly and being participated by more than 100 countries across the globe including the Philippines, as we rally the community towards a common goal of collecting and documenting the trash littering the coastline.

In 2017, the Philippines ranked #1 with the most number of volunteers, but on the contrary, the country is ranked #3 as the biggest dumper of plastics in the ocean. According to the Ocean Trash Index, the world’s largest item-by-item, location-by-location database of trash found in near-shore environments as a result of the data submitted by all the volunteers of ICC, plastic debris remains a growing concern in the marine environment, and the top five most commonly collected items are cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps and plastic grocery bags, respectively.

The trash data collection is important because it will help governments, manufacturing industries, businesses and individuals in making smart solutions to the marine debris problem. As we participate for this year’s International Coastal Cleanup activity scheduled on September 22, 2018, we encourage everyone to participate in the data gathering efforts so we can have a better assessment of the trash in our area.

There is an increasing need to address this issue of marine litter and beach cleanup alone is not enough. The highlight of this continuous effort is the ICC ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMIT, a supplement to the annual beach cleanup that will take place on September 27 and 28, 2018 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC).

This year we are launching the Youth Empowerment Symposium (#YES18) as we focus on empowering our youth by tapping into the best practices of top Filipinos and global organizations, inspiring our next generation of leaders to follow-suite and provide the tools that they will need to continue our quest towards a more sustainable future. Together, they can come up with viable solutions for pressing environmental matters and approach new, peaceful and constructive ways of problem-solving.

This will be the 4th Summit that will be held in Subic Bay and has always been focused on the new generation

millennials, the most powerful force of our future. If we want to change the world for the better, there has to be a change in people’s behavior. And this year’s theme is “Change Heroes” a challenge for the youth to be an instrument for change, to spark social consciousness formation towards social change, changing the way we view the world, unleashing our inner heroes, and become better builders of our nation.

It will be a symposium participated by youths, mainly the newly elected SK officials from Olongapo, Zambales and Bataan together with experienced executives and organization leaders that will focus on finding more efficient solutions to ensure that the cleanliness of our beaches will continue far beyond the cleanup activity.

This event is organized by the Lighthouse Marina Resort Legacy Foundation, Make a Difference (MAD) Travel and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary; co-presented by Coca-Cola Philippines, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, The Lighthouse Marina Resort and Globe Telecoms as the official connectivity partner; in cooperation with the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability, Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians, Miss Scuba Philippines, UP Marine Biological Society, Dakila, Seed4com, and Oceana Philippines; supported by Provincial Government of Zambales, Municipal of Olongapo, and Provincial Government of Bataan, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Coast Watch Council, Department of Tourism, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Maritime Group, Department of Interior and Local Government, and the National Youth Commission; sponsored by Ayala Harbor Point Mall, Anvaya Cove, PLDT Subictel, Think + Talk Creative Communications, VitalStrats Creative Solutions, Standard Insurance and Nanofixit.

Press Kit: ICC Environmental Summit 2018

________________________

Jade Bober

Fore more information visit:

Event Organizer – ICC Philippines – Zambales

https://www.facebook.com/icczambales/

0917.9868.873 | jdbober@gmail.com

www.icc.ph

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – A waterspout was seen hovering over the waters of Subic Bay Thursday afternoon as residents from Olongapo City and Subic Town were at awe over the spectacle; although, it also got them worried.

(photo courtesy of Joanna Baloy/ Facebook/ MANILA BULLETIN)

In a video shot by Ms. Joanna Baloy, a waterspout was seen hovering near one of the vessels along Subic Bay around 3:30 p.m. Baloy was shooting the video from a beach resort in Olongapo City.

Other videos of the waterspout were also posted on various social media pages, sparking fear among netizens that the waterspout would wreak havoc.

Experts say the difference between a tornado and a waterspout is that a tornado occurs on land while a waterspout occurs above water.

Some netizens also pointed out that the waterspout was increasing in size while others stated that it was getting nearer to land.

Retired expats who reside in Olongapo and Subic were also taking videos of the weather phenomenon.

A waterspout is an intense columnar vortex (usually appearing as a funnel-shaped cloud) that occurs over a body of water. Some are connected to a cumulus congestus cloud, some to a cumuliform cloud and some to a cumulonimbus cloud. In the common form, it is a non-supercell tornado over water.

source: news.mb.com.ph

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photo credit: Ilonggo Network

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Special Assistant to the President Secretary Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go disclosed on Wednesday afternoon that more “Malasakit Centers” will be put up by the government in various parts of the country, including Olongapo City and Zambales, to help less fortunate Filipinos.

In a short visit here to grace the opening of the Zubakery Café in Binictican, Go said efforts to open more “Malasakit Centers” are in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to bring government services closer to the people.

“This is why we are trying to establish more Malasakit Centers around the country,” he said.

Malasakit Centers are one-stop facilities, where medical and social services are offered to indigent patients.

These centers provide free medicine, health consultations, and other government assistance to less fortunate Filipinos, who cannot afford to go to private medical facilities.

Malasakit Centers make this process easier and more convenient as agencies concerned are located in the same area.

Among the government agencies that can be found in the Malasakit Center are the Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, and PhilHealth.

Go assured that “Malasakit Centers” will soon rise in this part of the country.

source: pna.gov.ph

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BATAAN PROVINCIAL CAPITOL – Governor Abet S. Garcia announced that the new, P2.5 B provincial capitol is set to open before yearend.

Source: ivoteph.com

The new capitol will be a one-stop -shop office where all the national and local government agencies will hold office to fast track the delivery of services to the public.

A brainchild of Garcia, the project was funded by the AlloyMTD, a Malaysian company, through the Build-Operate-Transfer scheme, at no cost to the provincial government

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board), meanwhile, has approved in a resolution the allocation of P300million for the purchase of office equipment and interior design for the building.

Garcia recently told investor Angus Yau, a Hong Kong-based trader and Realito Rubia, president of Ruvia Yacht based in the Freeport Area of Bataan, that the one-stop shop for government services will be a big relief to the people of Bataan.

“The people can save time and money in securing their needed business permits, clearances, and other services in the capitol,” Garcia told Yau and Ruvia.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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