By: Allan Macatuno, Julius N. Leonen

A US Los Angeles class attack submarine docked at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Thursday for a routine port visit.

The port call in Subic Bay was the ninth and last for the USS Bremerton (SSN 698), said Commander Travis Zettel, the submarine’s commanding officer.

“This is Bremerton’s ninth and final visit to Subic Bay in the ship’s 37 year history. My crew and I are looking forward to the opportunity to engage with the local community while simultaneously preparing the ship for the remainder of our deployment,” Zettel said.

An attack submarine, the USS Bremerton is more than 300 feet long and weighing more than 6,000 tons when submerged, Bremerton is capable of supporting a multitude of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and mine warfare, said a statement from the US Embassy in Manila.

The USS Bremerton is also the oldest commissioned submarine in the US Navy and is currently homeported in Pearl Harbor. Later this year, the submarine will move to its namesake city, Bremerton, Washington, where it will be decommissioned after nearly 40 years of naval service, the US Embassy in Manila added in its statement.

Zettel said the submarine’s visit highlights the “strong partnership” between the US and the Philippines, noting that it demonstrates the US Navy’s commitment to regional stability and maritime security.

The visit also gives the submarine’s crew of 150 sailors an opportunity to meet the local community in Subic, Zettel added.

“Bremerton’s arrival into Subic Bay means a lot to both my crew and the U.S. submarine force,” Zettel said in a statement issued by the US Embassy in Manila.

Zettel added that a number of the submarine’s sailors have families in the Philippines, and the port visit gave the crew the chance to better connect with their Filipino heritage.

“It really means a lot to me that I get the chance to visit a number of my family members again,” said Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Christopher Gapasin, who lived in the Philippines for six years and still has relatives in the area. /muf

Source: Inquirer.net

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CLARK FREEPORT – Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is now Pampanga Second District Congresswoman, has described the Subic-Clark area as the counter-magnet for Metro Manila.

Arroyo issued the statement during the formal launching of the P130-million Mabiga Toll Plazas and the P27 million Santa Ines-Magalang Exit Ramp of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) in nearby Mabalacat City on Monday, February 26.

The former president said that NLEx, SCTEx and the Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway (TPLEx) or the whole belt way is important for the development North of Manila.

The new interchange in Barangay Mabiga, which all of its features, is a very important tool in making the Subic-Clark growth corridor the most competitive center in the region, according to her.

“To me, SCTEx, among all my infrastructure projects when I was president, was my most important legacy to my province of Pampanga,” Arroyo said.

She also disclosed that President Duterte is bullish about the development of Central Luzon.

“Indeed, we’re very happy that now with the administration of President Duterte, he thinks the same way about our region. Remember when he came here last December 7 for our Kapampangan food festival? He said that Metro Manila is decaying and the alternative, the magnet, the counter magnet should be the Subic-Clark area,” Arroyo said.

The congresswoman at the same time thanked NLEx Corporation, under the leadership of President Rodrigo Franco, for being a “willing and cooperative” private partner of the government in the project.

“We now have the infrastructure to realize our vision, which is the Subic-Clark area counter-magnet for Metro Manila,” Arroyo said.

She also mentioned other vital projects in the region, which are being pursued by the Duterte Administration, including the Clark airport, NAIA-Clark train, and others. “As Kapampangans, we do our share because the way the President Duterte put it about Manila decaying is that it is not suitable for factories anymore. We are very suitable for the industries,” Arroyo said.

“Together with Clark, the province of Pampanga has partnered to promote investments in this part of the region,” she added.

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ? Dr. Lucio Tan, chairman and chief executive officer of Philippine Airlines, is looking at putting up a flying school here under the flagship airline’s brand.

Tan flew into the Subic Bay International Airport for an inspection of its airport facilities, and was welcomed by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma.

During the visit, the tycoon inquired about the state of facilities at the airport terminal, as well as other business potentials and tourism facilities that would complement an aviation-related trade.

“He was all smiles since the moment he landed at the SBIA on board his helicopter,” Eisma said. “The SBMA technical working group made a presentation showing the full potential of the Subic airport and I believe he was very much impressed.”

The PAL chairman and his entourage, looked closely at the Subic airport terminal, and asked for areas that could possibly be used for restaurants or passenger lounges.

Eisma briefed Tan of the design and purpose of the terminal, and pointed out that it used to accommodate local and international flights.

“Despite not being fully utilized, the SBIA equipment all work properly. We have kept them in tip-top shape,” Eisma pointed out.

The SBIA, which was completed in 1996 in time for Subic’s hosting of the Apec summit, boasts of a 10,000-square meter passenger terminal that has two gates, two jet ways, a closed-circuit television system, and a 9,000-foot runway.

It also has a military ramp at the southwest area, which is used by US Air Force planes under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United States. Meanwhile, its midway ramp is being utilized by a flight school here for aircraft parking.

Tan’s group also went on a rolling tour of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and looked into areas such as the Alava Wharf and the Cubi residential area.

The businessman, who asked if there were enough hotels that could accommodate the influx of airline passengers in Subic, was reportedly thrilled over the tourism sites that abound in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Early this month, leaders of the Hong Kong-based Asian Business Aviation Association said in a forum here that the SBIA could be developed as a business and general aviation airport to help increase people mobility, as well as boost business operations in the region.

Eisma said the agency is now aggressively promoting Subic as an aviation hub and is entertaining all possible options to maximize the use of its airport facilities.

“It is a challenge to us to get SBIA running. We’re all for these suggestions to turn Subic into an aviation hub that would cater to tourists, as well as traders because that would mean more business for the Freeport,” she added.

Source: Manila Standard

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Boracay — For the first time, TP 52 Davidson Centennial III of Judes Echauz trounced top contender and veteran campaigner Jelik, skippered by Hong Kong’s steel magnate Frank Pong to win the 8th Standard Insurance Subic Bay to Boracay Race (SBBR) started at the Freeport last Saturday noon.

Jun Avecilla, chairman of the organizing committee, announced that Centennial III, with all Filipino-crew arrived in this pristine white beach resort with 11:33:14 nosing out Jelik with 11:50: 02 or difference of 16: 48.

“This is the first that Centennial III beats Jelik on the line in the SBBR since the competition started seven years ago,” according to Avecilla adding that Centennial III placing second to Jelik for the past five years.

Geoff Hill’s Smith 72 Customs Atipodes placed third with12: 02: 46 in annual regatta grand prix sanctioned by the Philippine Sailing Association the Asian Yachting Grand Prix and fully backed by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Watercraft Venture Corp., the Lighthouse Marina Resort and Subic Sailing Club.

Other local contenders in the Racing Class I (RCI) are Excel 53 Karakoa helmed by businessman Ray Ordoveza and regular campaigner Black Baza captained by Anthony Root and Steve Manning, wherein the organizers are computer their time of arrival as of press time.

From Subic, the race will pass through the Bataan Peninsula, Batangas beaches, Mindoro, Tablas and Carabao Island in Romblon before reaching the tip of Boracay Island.

However, Scallywag, the highly fancied 100-footer of Malaysian-born Seng Huang Leng, failed to erase their previous time record arriving 9:26:31, according to Avecilla.

Scallywag is the former Ragamuffin 100, the same boat that holds the record in the Subic Bay to Boracay Race in 14 hours, 23 minutes, 17 seconds set in 2015.

The four-day regatta, a combination of point-to-point and windward/leeward courses, is part of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix season. Captain Tom Sheppard is the main judge.

The Boracay Regatta Cup also offers precious points for the coveted Asian Yachting Skipper and Yacht of the Year awards.

Overall winners in each three class of the combined Subic Bay to Boracay Race and the Boracay Cup Regatta series will bring home the impressive hand crafted solid brass trophy replicas by Fernando Cacnio, a multiawarded Filipino visual artist.

The Philippine Coast Guard will provide escorts for the participants during the race for safety and security.

Source: Business Mirror

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By: Ian Ocampo Flora

A total of 66 “un-energized” public elementary and secondary schools in Central Luzon are set to receive their respective Department of Education (DepEd) Computerization Program (DCP) Packages this February.

The off-grid solar electric power systems and ICT equipment package include seven units of two-in-one tablet, one wireless router, one cable and peripherals laptop, three units of photovoltaic modules (solar panels), mounting structure, charge controller, inverter, and energy storage battery.

The number of school recipients per province are 13 schools in Aurora, 18 schools in Bulacan, two in Mabalacat City, four in Nueva Ecija, one in Olongapo City, two in Pampanga, seven in Tarlac, and 19 in Zambales.

DepEd tapped the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to procure and deliver the IT equipment packages to recipient schools not powered by local grids in Luzon and Mindanao.

During the preparatory activities orientation held at the DepEd regional office on January 30, Dr. Benjamin Paragas, OIC-assistant regional director, reminded the school principals and teachers to ensure the safety and security of these equipment once delivered to their respective schools.

“Please ensure that the packages that will be given to you will be put in a safe place, strengthen your partnership with your parents-teachers association, with your barangay and community people because if we have powerful partners in the delivery of quality basic education services as well as the protection of all our equipment and assets in school, we are assured the maximum utilization of the resources,” he said.

The DCP raises the Information Communication Technology (ICT) literacy of learners, teachers, and school heads by integrating ICT in the school system, and by providing computer laboratory packages to secondary schools and e-Classroom to elementary schools nationwide.

Source: SunStar Pampanga

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