A burnt bus is seen at the side of the gutter on Wednesday at the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) near the Concepcion Exit, indicating a gruesome accident. (Jonas Reyes / MANILA BULLETIN)

A report from the Central Luzon Police Regional Office (PRO-3) said a Fuso truck with plate number RHD 831, driven by Emmanuel Retardo, 46, with his helper Victor Ayen, 40, both from Plaridel, Bulacan was rammed at its rear by a Five Star Bus (UYD 493) driven by Rolando Untalan, 50, of Calasiao, Pangasinan.

According to the initial investigation sent to Superintendent Augusto Pasamonte, chief of Concepcion Police Station, the speeding Five Star bus was tailing the Fuso truck while traversing the northbound lane of SCTEx. Suddenly, the bus rammed the rear portion of the truck..

The police report said the accident happened around 11:50 p.m. and was reported to authorities around 12:20 a.m. yesterday (Wednesday).

The impact sent the two vehicles falling into a creek, the report said.

Apparently, the bus caught flames after it fell to the embankment and toasted alive three of the passengers who were trapped inside the burning vehicle, police said.

Police have yet to identify the fatalities as investigators on the ground said they were “totally burned.”

Truck driver Retardo and helper Ayen were brought to Dr. Eutiquio Atanacio Memorial Hospital Inc., in Concepcion, Tarlac along with bus passengers Tammy Tagana, 24; Arnolfo Quinto, 59; Alfie Fernandez, 29; Carolyn Fernandez, 24; Rose Ann Agbanlog, 26; Criselda Joy Pascua, 25; Richard Sabiron, 29; Beth Carbonel, 25; and Felisa Bagon, 24.

Meanwhile, Untalan was rushed to Concepcion District Hospital along with his passengers Veronico Policarpio, 48; Dionisio Tibonsay, 33 and his 12-year-old companion (boy); Shaian Amor Sotto, 34; Sharah Jane Esteban, 41; Mylene Martinez, 41; Jerome Ian Lee Balagtas, 19; Meriam Reyes, 25; and a 17-year-old girl who is five months pregnant.

The other two bus passengers, Manny Agravante, 36; and Jhomar Samson, 24, were brought to Tarlac Provincial Hospital, the report added.

A follow-up investigation was already conducted to determine the cause of the accident and the identity of the three fatalities.

Th driver at fault will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to property, police said.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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Photo Credits to vientodelmar.com

SURFING has become more and more popular in the Philippines and a lot of locals are now giving it a shot. Lucky for us Filipinos, there are actually a number of good spots in the Philippines to practice surfing. Beginners and pros alike are sure to have an exciting time as they ride some waves this summer in five of the best surfing spots in the Philippines.

1. Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte

Siargao Island is not known as the “Surfing Capital of the Philippines” for nothing with its strong waves from the Pacific Ocean that produces right and left hand breaks every intermediate to advanced surfers are dying to ride. Situated in Surigao del Norte, this popular wave has also gained attention in the international scene. Local and foreign surfers often flock to General Luna where the famous Cloud 9 can be found. Jacking Horse, Tuason Left, Rock Island, Stimpies and Pacifico are among the other popular breaks in the island.

2. Baler, Aurora

Baler is basically the birthplace of surfing in the country and is the most popular surfing destination for local surfers. Aside from it being the most accessible for locals since it’s only a couple of hours drive away from Manila, Baler also offers surfing spots fit for every surfer. Sabang Beach is suitable for beginners and intermediate surfers for its medium swell and gentle waves while Cemento Beach has the best waves in Baler for the more advanced surfers. Another famous spot is Charlie’s Point which offers medium-sized beach breaks for all surfers.

3. La Union

La Union is the closest to Manila which makes it the easiest to access by road and it is where surfers will find consistent waves throughout the year. San Juan is the primary surf beach in La Union and is best known for having three breaks: the Beach Break, The Bowl and The Point. Aside from San Juan, there are other few spots worth hitting like Carille which is only five minutes away from San Juan and is also one of the recommended surf spots for its long right hand point break. Other notable surf spots are Sunset, Bacnotan and Darigayos

4. Lanuza Bay in Surigao del Sur

Dubbed as the surf center of Surigao del Sur, Lanuza is also a must-visit surfing destination aside from the famous Siargao Island. Lanuza Bay in Cantilan makes big waves from the southern edge of the Northwestern Pacific typhoon belt during peak season with waves that could reach up to 15 feet. Surfing pros and enthusiasts can also drop by the town of Doot Poktoy, Punta and Sitio Badiang to experience world-class surfing.

5. San Antonio, Zambales

The province of Zambales is mainly known for its laidback beaches and nice surfing spots. San Antonio is the well-known surf spot in Zambales with its impressive south swell. San Narciso is perfect for experienced surfers as it is an A-frame beach with some strong currents while San Felipe gives long waves and consistent swell on and off seasons.

Source: www.sunstar.com.ph

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EARTHY BEAUTIES Candidates for the Limgas na Pangasinan beauty title plant propagules at the provincial mangrove nursery in Bolinao town on Sunday as part of the nationwide celebration of Earth Day. —WILLIE LOMIBAO

The Philippines focused on the cleanup of Boracay on Sunday as it joined other countries in highlighting the global problem of plastic pollution on Earth Day.

“This year’s observance of Earth Day in the Philippines has stricken a resonant chord with the government’s resolve to clean [up] and restore Boracay Island to its previous stature as one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches of the world,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

In his State of the Environment Address, the message of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu was: The time when Filipinos could simply turn a blind eye to crimes against Mother Nature is now over.

The speech was read by Undersecretary Rodolfo Garcia to a sea of advocates decked out in sundry shades of green who were gathered for Earth Day festivities.

“Environmental abuse persists because there are those who allow, if not encourage, irresponsibility to proceed with impunity,” Cimatu said.

“We must cease being tolerant of environmental abuse, and take active part in the strict enforcement of environmental laws, rules, regulations and ordinances,” he added.

Earth Day theme

The speech was delivered at Harbour Park, Pasay City, set against the backdrop of Manila Bay, which has long been a dumping ground for the city’s waste—the perfect foil for this year’s Earth Day theme, “Green the Cities, Green the Oceans.”

Cimatu said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was not surprised when President Rodrigo Duterte branded Boracay a “cesspool” in February and ordered its temporary closure.

He said the DENR had been warning the public about the tourism hot spot’s ill fate for years.

“Why were our warnings not heeded?” he asked. “If the Philippines has been celebrating Earth Day since 1990, or for 28 years now, why do the environmental problems plaguing Boracay and other areas persist?”

Citizens also to blame

The answer Cimatu arrived at was that the blame could not rest solely on the shoulders of Boracay’s local government, or on duty-bearers anywhere—but also on every citizen and visitor who had tolerated environmental abuse, and who should take it upon themselves to make environmental protection “a way of life.”

The environment secretary vowed to restore Boracay’s “former robust ecology,” saying he would not stop until the island became “a liveable community.”

This year’s Earth Day celebration was punctuated by a call to end plastic pollution in the oceans by reducing waste from single-use plastics.

Cimatu cited an Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment report in September 2015 that ranked the Philippines third among the highest sources of plastic pollution in global waters, after China and Indonesia.

Banning plastic straws

The world’s plastic pollution problem is so large that banning plastic straws and stirrers may not be enough, according to scientists.

Australian scientists Denise Hardesty and Chris Wilcox estimate, using trash collected on US coastlines during cleanups over five years, that there are nearly 7.5 million plastic straws lying around America’s shorelines.

They reckon 437 million to 8.3 billion plastic straws are on the entire world’s coastlines.

But that huge number suddenly seems small when you look at all the plastic trash bobbing around oceans.

A University of Georgia environmental engineering professor, Jenna Jambeck, calculates that nearly 8 million metric tons end up in the world’s oceans and coastlines each year, as of 2010.

That’s just in and near oceans. Each year 31.9 million metric tons of plastic pollution are produced around Earth and about a quarter of that ends up around the water.

“For every pound of tuna we’re taking out of the ocean, we’re putting two pounds of plastic in the ocean,” says ocean scientist Sherry Lippiatt, California regional coordinator for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s marine debris program.

Seabirds can ingest as much as 8 percent of their body weight in plastic, which for humans “is equivalent to the average woman having the weight of two babies in her stomach,” says Hardesty of Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. —With reports from Christine O. Avendaño and AP

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said its resolve to go after stale debts and past-due accounts of business locators in the freeport has netted P148.6 million for the state-owned agency.

BY PATRICK ROXAS

The SBMA Finance Group reported that the funds collected through the new administration’s aggressive collection program, came from rentals, sublease shares, common use service area (CUSA) fees and other accounts receivable in the last 15 months.

The collection included long-time debt payments by Freeport-registered companies for P101.9 million and $593,118 and housing payments for P6.5 million and $172,922.

SBMA accounting officials said some of these debts were incurred as early as 2000 but remained unsettled for 17 years.

“This is proof that just by consistently applying existing laws and policies and actively engaging our stakeholders in Subic — listening to them and figuring out mutually-acceptable solutions, we can accomplish much,” SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma, said.

“Besides, looking after the interest of the government as regards the operation of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is a duty we cannot shirk; we have to go after those who have debts, and we have to do this decisively,” she added.

Eisma said business executives who understood the purpose of the campaign and approve of the reform measures that have been put in place, supported it.

SBMA records showed that a lot of indebted companies have availed of payment schemes approved by the SBMA Board of Directors, thus allowing them to amortize past-due accounts over a certain period of time.

Some of these big locators include the Lyceum of Subic Bay that paid P31.5 million for both arrears and advance rent; Global Daeil Subic, Inc., which signed a payment deal for P16.6 million; and Subic Bay Yacht Club, Inc., with similar repayment scheme for P11.8 million.

Meanwhile, SBMA records showed that billings to business locators totaled P3.88 billion from January 2016 to December 2017. From this, the agency collected P3.12 billion, thus posting a collection efficiency of 80 percent.

Collection efficiency for its housing accounts was at 83 percent in the same period, with P167.7 million from total billings of P201.4 million.

Eisma added that as part of the agency’s collection thrust, the SBMA initiated an audit last year that yielded P18.3 million in new billings for gross revenue shares from several business locators in the zone.

“The audit is still on-going, and everyone in the business community here can expect that they will be treated equally and fairly within the policy framework,” she added.

Earlier, the SBMA chief announced the strict but consistent implementation of existing policies covering the use of areas and facilities leased to business locators, which are operating in Subic under a tax- and duty-free regime.

The agency repossessed facilities that some business locators have left idle and unimproved, revoked the lease and development contract of investors that failed to meet their obligations, and implemented a stringent policy to collect SBMA receivables, as approved by the board of directors.

Eisma explained that the strict measures, coupled with the streamlining of business processes in the Freeport zone, are meant to improve the business climate in Subic, and foster economic sustainability and provide equal opportunities for all.

source: manilatimes

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Close to 200 elite triathletes from 20 countries vie for honors as the 2018 NTT Asia Cup Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) unfolds at ACEA Subic Bay in Subic Bay Freeport this weekend.

Photo by: SWIMBIKERUN.ph

A close fight is expected in the Elite Men’s competition between the Japanese trio of Ryousuke Maeda, Shogo Ishitsuka and Ren Sato, and Australia’s Nicholas Free, Hong Kong’s Wong Hui Wai and Korea’s Kim Ji Hwan.

Two-time SEA Games gold medalist Nikko Huelgas banners the local challenge. Backstopping him are his Philippine teammates Jonard Saim, John Chicano, Paul Jumamil, Jorry Ycong and Banjo Norte.

On the distaff side, Macau’s Hoi Long, Japan’s Yurina Kawasaki, Hong Kong’s Choi Yan Yin Hilda and Japan’s Hideko Kikuchi are expected to slug it out for supremacy.

The Philippine squad of 2017 SEA Games gold medalist Kim Mangrobang, 2015 SEA Games gold medalist Claire Adorna and Kim Kilgroe are not counted out to pull off a surprise.

Among those seeing action are five Under-23 male participants, 24 Elite Junior men, 13 Elite Junior women and several Youth Olympic Games aspirants.

The Philippine Sports Commission, along with the Philippine Olympic Committee, Arena, New Balance, Philippine Star, Gatorade, Omega Pain Killer Liniment, Standard Insurance, Lighthouse Marina Resort, Century Tuna, Gatorade, Subic Holiday Villas, Travelers Hotel, ACEA, Asian Center for Insulation and Solar Sports, stand as sponsors.

ITU qualifying points for Asian and world rankings, as well as to major international events up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics await the top finishers in the 1.5 kilometer swim, 40km bike and 10km run event.

Organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines in partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, SUBIT is supervised by the International Triathlon Union and the Asian Triathlon Confederation.

SUBIT, the longest-running triathlon in the country, marks its 25th edition this year. For inquiries, visit Triathlon.org.ph or contact 09175776070, 09219954764 or 09156394233.

source: manilatimes.net

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