There will be window hours for trucks during the truck ban imposed by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) at the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) from Clark to Balintawak, and also along EDSA from Balintawak to Magallanes.

By Chito A. Chavez

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Emmanuel Miro of the Technical Working Group on Traffic Management said trucks carrying perishable items will now be allowed from 12:01 A.M. to 4:00 A.M. from November 13 to 15.

Earlier, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee on Security, Peace and Order, and Emergency Preparedness and Response (CSPOEPR) declared that all trucks and closed vans will be prohibited from traversing the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) from Clark to Balintawak from November 12 to 15 to ensure the smooth flow of traffic for the delegates to the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit.

Aside from SCTEX and NLEX, all heavy vehicles are also barred from traversing EDSA from Balintawak to Magallanes during the same period, according to which is composed of 21 member agencies.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and CSPOEPR chairperson Catalino S. Cuy added that from November 11 to 15, motorists should expect intermittent traffic stops in the following designated ASEAN lanes in the Makati area: Arnaiz Avenue, Makati Avenue, Parkway Drive, and along EDSA in the Makati area.

During that period, rerouting will also be implemented along Sen. Jose W. Diokno Boulevard, Jalandoni, V. Sotto, Bukaneg, and A. Dela Rama in Pasay City while occasional traffic disruptions will be experienced along EDSA, Pasay Road, and Makati Avenue in Makati City. The same is also expected along EDSA in Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, and Quezon City.

Cuy also advised the public to plan their trips as the whole CCP Complex will be closed on the same dates after being designated as an ASEAN Delegates Zone.

“We urge the public to veer away from the said areas and take alternate routes to avoid being inconvenienced by the heavy traffic while the ASEAN Summit is ongoing,” he says.

The truck ban and rerouting scheme are part of the security preparations being carried out by the ASEAN CSPOEPR for a safe and peaceful ASEAN Summit.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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Subic Bay Freeport – This premier Freeport was awarded as the Best Sports Tourism Destination of the Year during the 3rd Sports Industries Awards and Conference Asia (SPIA Asia) held in Bangkok, Thailand in November 7.

By Jonas Reyes

Photo by: CSM Asia Pacific/twitter: @CSM_APAC

With the tourism theme Funtastic Subic Bay, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) bagged the Gold award, followed by Visit Victoria which won the Silver award and Amazing Thailand that won bronze award during the Best Sports Tourism Destination of the Year category.

Touted as the “Triathlon Capital of the Philippines”, this premier Freeport has been known to hold top triathlon competitions such as the K-Swiss ITU, 5150 and Ironman 70.3.

And with plans to hold the first Full Ironman on June 3 next year, Subic cemented its reputation as the triathlon capital on the country.

“This is an accomplishment for Team Subic Bay since every stakeholder gave their full support and best service and performance every time we had a sporting event,” SBMA Tourism Manager Jem Camba said.

The manager was also thankful to the Department of Tourism – Central Luzon and to Philippine Tourism Director Ronnie Tiotuico who she said supported of the Freeport’s endeavor to become the sporting capital of the Philippines.

Aside from the prestigious award, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) also bagged the silver for the Best Sponsorship of a Sport, Team or Event.

In 2016, Subic Bay Freeport earned a ranking of 85.80 percent in the 2015 Ironman 70.3 APAC Overall Satisfaction Scores.

During that time, the race ranking was just a shy of .09 percent of global standards, pushing the ranking above the Asia-Pacific standard of 83.95 percent.

The 2015 Ironman 70.3 APAC Overall Satisfaction Scores placed Subic at number six among the best triathlon sites in the Asia Pacific Championship series back then.

Topping the list in 2016 is Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia with a satisfaction rating of 90.20 percent, followed by Western Sydney and Korea tying for the second place at 89 percent; Mandurah in Western Australia, third at 88.30 percent; Auckland, New Zealand, fourth at 88 percent and Busselton, Western Australia, fifth at 85.99 percent.

Subic Bay and Cairns in Queensland, Australia tied for sixth place with a rating of 85.80 percent—less than a point short of the global average of 85.89 percent.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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Subic Bay Freeport – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is set to redevelop the master plan for the Redondo Peninsula after an agreement with a locator fell through, SBMA chairperson Wilma Eisma said.

By Jonas Reyes

photo by: IEX.nl

The locator proposed to construct an industrial estate along with a solar farm in the area.

Eisma said that the SBMA Board of Directors decided to take a step back and called for the development of a master plan for the entire Redondo Peninsula before opening it up again to investors.

“We’re basically back to square one, because the project proponent was not able to honor the commitments under its very own proposal,” Eisma said.

“The SBMA is still open to receiving proposals though, should these be consistent with the SBMA’s objective of developing Redondo into an industrial and maritime hub,” she added.

The SBMA Board of Directors had earlier revoked the lease and development agreement (LDA) with Dynamic Konstruk International Eco Builders Corp. (DKIEBC), invoking an automatic revocation clause under the agreement in case the proponent fails to meet its obligations.

Eisma said that despite several extensions given by SBMA, DKIEBC still failed to deliver the required advance rentals and security deposit, thus leaving the Subic agency with no other recourse but to revoke the contract.

According to SBMA records, Dynamic Konstruk initially proposed in May 2016 to develop 982 hectares of land at the Redondo Peninsula, which also hosts the Hanjin shipyard and the coal-fired thermal plant project of Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc.

Calling the project “Redondo 200MW Solar Farm and Eco Dynamic Industrial City”, DKIEBC said it will devote 400 hectares of the project site to a solar-power generation farm and 582 hectares to an industrial hub.

During negotiations for the project’s 50-year lease, however, it became apparent that DKIEBC, a certified “A” PCAB licensee, as well as its partners, lacked adequate experience in solar power generation.

Eisma said the SBMA Board required a P2.2-billion paid-up capital, and DKIEBC made a counter-offer to pay upfront the amount of P472 million, which is equivalent to 50 percent of its rental and security deposits.

“When DKIEBC also failed to honor this commitment, the project was considered revoked pursuant to a resolution of the SBMA Board,” Eisma added.

As of now, the SBMA has stopped dealing with the company on the aborted project.

It had also warned the public on reports that some parties are still seeking investors to fund the project despite official revocation by the agency.

“This is already a closed issue. Anybody seeking funds for the Redondo industrial city and solar farm project is probably doing some scam operation, so we urge everyone to beware,” Eisma concluded.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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The much awaited city fiesta of the city which has been a yearly tradition of Olongapo was formally launched Monday by no less than Mayor Rolen Paulino.

Opened by the Batang Gapo Drum beaters, presentation of Ms. Olongapo Candidates attended by residents, government employees, non-government organization and officials of the 17 barangay, Mayor Paulino formally declared the opening of the city fiesta event open.

“Tradisyon na sa lugar natin ang city fiesta, taon taon sinusubukan natin pagandahin at dagdagan ng mga activities at sana ngayon taon ay maging masaya ang buong Olongapo,” Paulino said.
Amongst the activity lined up for the city fiesta which has a theme of “Music Festival” are the Ms. Olongapo 2017 representing each barangay, chorale competition, jeep at trike ni juan competition, binyagang bayan, Misa de Gallo, the inter school lantern parade an drum and lyre competition.

A costume fun run will also be part of the activity which will be held at the newly built oval track in barangay East Tapinac before the grand parade.

The most awaited city grand parade will also be beefed up with a street dance competition dubbed as “Sayaw Kalye” which will be performed during the parade.

The yearly city fiesta has been a long standing tradition in the city up to the time when the US Naval Bases was still station inside Subic Bay Freeport, it is a time when residents can get out, lineup from Magsaysay Drive to Rizal Triangle and watch the entertainment.

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Dinalupihan, Bataan — To serve as stern warning to others, Mayor Gila Garcia personally led yesterday morning’s crushing of defective weighing scales seized from various commercial establishments, here

CRUSHING DECEIT — Putting her amateur machine operator skills to the test, Mayor Gila Garcia maneuvers a road roller in front of the Municipal Hall to crush defective weighing scales seized from various markets and vending stalls in her town of Dinalupihan in Bataan on Monday. (Mar T. Supnad)

Driving a road roller (pison) in front of the municipal employees and media, the lady mayor destroyed the 101 confiscated weighing scales and crushed it into pieces.

“This is a clear message to the public that we want to protect the welfare of the consumers and this will serve as warning to others,” said Garcia, the first-ever town executive to do the symbolic destruction of defective weighing scales.

Garcia thanked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) led by its provincial director Nelin Cabahug and other businessmen who are supportive in the campaign against illegal weighing scales in the town.

For her part, DTI Director Cabahug said the destruction means that the DTI wants fair-and-square in business dealings in the entire province.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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