SUBIC, Zambales —The mayor as well as the members of the municipal council of this town have expressed strong opposition for the planned “jade mining” in one of the villages here.

By Patrick Roxas

Mayor Jay Khonghun said he doesn’t believe the proponent company will only do quarrying, and that this is only a front and could result in the destruction of the environment of his beautiful town.

“I’m that afraid if they insist on doing mining in my town there could be trouble, I hope not,” Khonghun said.

The town’s vice mayor JB Felarca has revealed money was offered to him and other members of the municipal council in exchange for the alleged illegal mining operation.

Felarca identified the firm as Philippine Yuanding International Trade Corp. (PYITC) owned by a certain Basilio Jumig of Barangay Batonlapoc in Botolan, Zambales.

He said the mining company used corrupt employees of the provincial government in the bribery attempt but the town council unanimously rejected it.

Subic residents were reportedly shocked and strongly protested when the provincial government issued a special extraction permit on April 25, 2017 to PYITC.

The said company was also given a permit by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for quarrying activities on a 5-hectare land said to be very rich in gemstones.

Arthuro Garcia, chairman of Barangay Cawag, has also allegedly issued a permit to PYITC for the jade mining operation without first conducting public consultations.

Residents of the said barangay are reportedly closely monitoring the situation to ensure the protection of the environment and peaceful living in the village.

A public consultation was scheduled last June 18, 2017 in Sitio Nagyantok, Barangay Cawag on the planned mining operation in the area but no representatives from PYITC and the provincial government of Zambales attended.

Efforts were made to reach PYITC and provincial officials to comment on the issue but Subic Sun has received no reply as of press time.

First Published: subicsun.com

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: Another big business gathering is coming to town this month. The “26th North Luzon Area Business Conference (NLABC),” described as “a venue promoting harmonious relationship among local chambers particularly CCIs from the North Luzon Area,” will be held Aug. 24-26 at the Subic Grand Harbour Hotel inside the Freeport area.

By Percy Roxas

Subic Grand Harbour Hotel, the venue for the annual business gathering.

The event, to be hosted by the Metro Olongapo Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MOCCI) in partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), will be held under the theme: “Next Level for Northern Luzon” in conjunction with PCCiI’s theme of “2017 Giant Leap – Leadership, Economic, Attitude, Performance.”

Some 400 to 600 businessmen from Region I, II, and III, as well as the Cordillera Administrative region, are expected to attend the annual business gathering.

“NLABC is a collective activity of the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry in every area comprising various regions providing a common base to work and struggle for the common goal and objective,” says Eng. Alfonso Go, NLABC chairman.

“It is the coming together of all the local chambers and other stakeholders for mutual strength, sharing and united efforts to undertake new tasks and challenges,” adds Bong Pineda, NLABC convention direction. “It calls for a collective voice, more potent alliance and convergence of actions towards a vibrant local business climate and development in the countryside.”

First Published: subicsun.com

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Emosyonal ang naging talumpati ni Subic Town Mayor Jay Khonghun sa kanyang SOMA o State of the Municipality Address nitong Martes ng Hapon sa Subic Central School, Subic Zambales.

Ulat ni Lolito Ramada Go

“Tuloy-tuloy sa pagtulong
Tuloy-tuloy sa pagsulong.”

Sa kanyang talumpati inisa-isa ng Punong Bayan ang kanyang naging accomplishment sa taong 2017 sa larangan ng edukasyon, ekonomiya, agrikultura peace and order, disaster preparedness, anti-drug campaign at iba pa. Inisa-isa nya rin ang mga panukalang proyekto ng kanyang administrasyon tulad ng Convention Center, Subic Medical Hospital, bagong munisipyo, bagong town park, boardwalk at iba pa. Makailang ulit ding napahinto sa kanyang talumpati ang alkalde tuwing kokomentuhan ang mga video testimonials ng kanyang mga natulungang kababayan partikular ang testimonya ng kanyang mga scholars.

Samantala, naging highlight ng kanyang talumpati ang mariing pagkondena nito laban sa ipinagbabawal na gamot. Aniya, tutulungan nilang repormahin ang sinumang handang sumuko at magbago subalit tutuluyan nya umano ang sinumang mahuhuling gumagamit at nagbebenta ng droga sa kanyang nasasakupan.
Ito na ang ikalimang Ulat ng Bayan ni Khonghun makaraang maluklok bilang alkalde sa bayan ng Subic noong 2013.

First Published: Subic Broadcasting Corporation @ Facebook

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Now it’s official: 2018 Century Tuna Ironman Philippines to be held at Subic Bay Freeport.

Subic Bay Freeport Zone — After months of speculations, the word is finally out: “Ironman Philippines” is happening in the country. The full-distance Ironman race has been set for June 3, 2018 at the triathlon nerve center of the country, Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

By Patrick Roxas

Subic Bay Freeport Zone — After months of speculations, the word is finally out: “Ironman Philippines” is happening in the country. The full-distance Ironman race has been set for June 3, 2018 at the triathlon nerve center of the country, Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The “2018 Century Tuna Ironman Philippines” – it’s official name — is a 3.8 km Swim, 180km Bike, and a 42km Run event.

“The enthusiasm around Ironman races in the Philippines is tremendous – from both spectators and participants,” said Geoff Meyer, managing director of Ironman Asia. “We’ve had this project of bringing a full-distance Ironman race to the Philippines for a long time. We are really excited about the special edition of this race and look forward to June 2018.”

The historic event coincides with the 10th year commemoration of the Ironman branded events held in the Philippines.

It has been 10 years since the first Ironman 70.3 race was held in the Philippines (in Camarines Sur). From 583 participants and one race in 2009, the sport has grown by leaps and bounds, with multiple races all over the Philippines.

“We at Sunrise Events are happy to be at the forefront of this triathlon renaissance and are proud to organize the ‘2018 Century Tuna Ironman Philippines’ to showcase one more time the best that the country can offer,” said Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, founder of Sunrise Events.

RACE COURSE

The inaugural “Century Tuna Ironman Philippines” builds upon the successes of “Century Tuna IRONMAN 70.3 Subic Bay,” and provides athletes with a challenging, yet beautiful course to tackle.

Athletes will begin their Ironman journey with a one-loop, 3.8km ocean swim in the calm, pristine waters of Triboa Bay, starting and finishing at ACEA Resort, which will also play host to the first of the split transition areas.

Once onto their bikes, athletes will head out of Subic Bay and onto the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway for a fast and flat two-loop, 180km ride, which will bring riders back into the T2 at Remy Field in downtown Subic Bay.

The 42.2km, two-loop marathon run will take in some of the best coastal views that the area has to offer and will be a buzz of energy with local supporters lining the streets to cheer the athletes home.

PRIZE MONEY AND KONA SLOTS

The “2018 Century Tuna IRONMAN Philippines” offers a $25,000 prize purse and 30 age-group qualifying slots for the “2018 Ironman World Championship” in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Meanwhile Greg Banzon, vice-president and general manager of Century Pacific Food, said Century Tuna is very proud to be the title sponsor of the first full-distance Ironman race in the Philippines.

“We see the event as the perfect platform to promote a healthy lifestyle – the core value of our brand. We hope that the ‘Century Tuna Ironman Philippines’ will inspire many Filipinos to pursue their own fitness journey.”

For more details and to register for the event, visit www.ironman.com/philippines

First Published: subicsun.com

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MALACAÑANG is set to repeal Executive Order (EO) 340, which split the highest position in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and install just one top official in order to head off the ongoing leadership tussle in the Subic agency, a senior Palace official said last Wednesday.

By Henry Empeño

Photo by World Travel Server

In a joint meeting conducted by the House Committee on Bases Conversion and the Ad Hoc Committee on Central and North Luzon Inspection, Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Menardo Guevarra said the Office of the Executive Secretary has already submitted a draft EO to President Duterte to solve the problem at the SBMA.

Guevarra described the new EO as “expressly repealing EO 340 and reaffirming the provision of RA [Republic Act] 7227.” He declined, however, to reveal the full content of the new EO pending review by Duterte.

Section 13 of RA 7227, or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, provides for the appointment by the President of “a professional manager as administrator of the Subic Authority…who shall be the ex-officio chairman of the board and who shall serve as the chief executive officer.”

However, EO 340, which was issued by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004, had separated the position and functions of the SBMA chairman from that of the SBMA administrator.

Rep. Emi G. Calixto-Rubiano of the Lone District of Pasay, who chairs the House Committee on Bases Conversion, said the second joint committee hearing on EO 340 last Wednesday was meant “to resolve once and for all the overlapping responsibilities at the SBMA”, which had embroiled SBMA Chairman Martin B. Diño and SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma in a leadership battle.

The two appointees of Duterte have been at odds since May following Diño’s issuance of an administrative order that Eisma said encroached upon her power and functions as administrator.

The misunderstanding had led the seven local government units near the Subic free port and, lately, the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, to call upon the President to retain just one official to head the SBMA to prevent confusion and to resolve the conflict. Before Guevarra presented Malacañang’s position in last Wednesday’s hearing, the committee asked former Sen. Alberto G. Romulo to shed light on why EO 340 was issued by Arroyo in 2004.

Romulo, who was then executive secretary when Arroyo signed the EO, explained EO 340 derived its provenance from the Constitution, the 1987 Administrative Code of the Philippines, the General Appropriations Act, and several other jurisprudences that gave the President broad residual powers to reorganize the Executive branch.

“Since May 4, 2004, when it was signed, more than 13 years have passed and to my knowledge no question has been issued on [EO 340],” Romulo said. He noted the said order had “served well” the administrations of Arroyo and her successor, former President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Guevarra, who represented Executive Secretary Salvador  C. Medialdea, completely agreed with Romulo on the origin of EO 340 and added that the Office of the President has also taken into account all the relevant laws, issuances and rulings in reviewing the matter.

However, he said, “We cannot escape the fact that there is a definitive law governing [the SBMA issue], and that it is clear that we’re talking about one and the same person in this situation.”

Therefore, the Office of the Executive Secretary has deemed it proper “to recommend to the President to repeal EO 340”, Guevarra said. On this note, Rubiano’s committee formally ended its inquiry on EO 340 and said it would just await the decision of Duterte.

The committee also urged both Eisma and Diño to maintain status quo ante at the SBMA and to strictly do their duties until the new EO has been served.

First Published: businessmirror.com.ph
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