As Kacific plans for the launch of its Kacific1 satellite later in the year, it has selected ABS for its ground infrastructure. ABS’ teleport in Subic Bay, the Philippines, will host, operate and provide first level support for its gateway hub.

Kacific1 will be a pioneering High Throughput Satellite (HTS) to be located over Asia-Pacific using Ka-band spot beams for extremely cost-efficient broadband delivery. Its 56 powerful high throughput beams will cover select areas over the Pacific Islands and South East Asia, with six beams covering The Philippines archipelago and a further 21 beams covering Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Malaysia.

“Kacific chose to locate its ground infrastructure in the Philippines because it is a priority market for us,” says Kacific CEO, Christian Patouraux. “Our beams will reach 100 percent of the nation’s population across its many islands, making affordable connectivity available to all those who are currently unserved or underserved. ABS is an ideal partner as they have a proven track record and, like us, have also made a commitment to the Philippines.”

ABS has its primary space operations center for its entire fleet of six satellites in Subic Bay. Its teleport facilities operate with extremely high availability, with triple redundant power supply and fiber connectivity to Tier-1 IP international peering points. In keeping with Ka-band operating norms for tropical regions, ABS has arranged a diversity site to be located nearby at the Clark Freeport Zone. The teleports will operate on an active diversity basis using state-of-the-art connectivity via a dedicated fiber route to directly optically connect the two gateway hubs. This ensures that commercial traffic would have a reliable transmission from one of the sites if, for example, rain degradation was impairing the functionality of the other.

ABS’ Philippines teleport is equipped with the latest technologies and platforms. It serves as one of the major satellite hubs over the Asia-Pacific region, hosting more than 50 antennas. As satellites provide a complementary role to 5G connectivity, the Subic facility is poised to be a gateway for future 5G services, especially to remote areas. The facility is managed by professional personnel and experienced engineers providing round-the-clock services, 24 x 7 customer support and a dedicated customer program

Source: spacewatch.global

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The NLR77 Class 2 PUV design by Santa Rosa on display at the Philippine Bus and Trucks 2019 expo

Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

ISUZU Philippines Corp. (IPC) continues its dealership expansion as it recently broke ground another new site. Soon to rise in Subic Gateway, Subic Bay Freeport Zone will be the new and first-ever Isuzu dealership in the area. Under the management of Velocity Motor Sales Corp. (VMSC), the upcoming branch will soon open its doors to the public to offer Isuzu’s complete line of passenger and commercial vehicles.

Gracing the groundbreaking ceremony were none other than Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and other executives. “We are proud and confident to provide our fellow kababayans with the No. 1 commercial vehicle in the country. With the full lineup of Isuzu vehicles, parts and services, we at Velocity Motors are great believers that top quality service is what makes Isuzu such a great global brand,” said VMSC President Jason Hao.

VMSC Chairman and Treasurer Jeffrey Hao Lin (from left), SBMA Chairman and Administrator Atty. Wilma Eisma, VMSC President Jason Hao, IPC President Hajime Koso, IPC Sales Division Head Joseph Bautista, and SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business and Investments Renato Lee III

Becoming as one of the most competitive international services and logistic centers in Southeast Asia, Subic Bay Freeport Zone continuous to be one of the Philippines’s major economic zone receiving numerous investment projects. Considering these opportunities, Isuzu Subic is poised to become the automotive and transport solution hub to cater to the fast-growing province of Zambales. Boasting a total land area close to 3,800 sq.m., its showroom can display up to four units. The service area, on the other hand, is capable to service up to seven light commercial vehicle and two trucks service bays.

“This new dealership at Subic marks an exciting next chapter both for IPC and for the motorists in Subic and nearby areas,” said IPC President Hajime Koso. “We are engaged in a number of powerful partnerships that made the arrival of this moment possible, and we are proud to build a dealership that will cater the Subic community,” he added.

IPC believes in the importance of continuously providing transport solutions to the Filipinos. Further, dealership expansion is Isuzu’s way of providing quality products and excellent after-sales service that will give customers the edge they need to be successful in their businesses and personal needs. To date, Isuzu has 43 dealerships nationwide, offering world-class vehicles, and exceptional after-sales services.

Introducing the PUV-X program

Meanwhile, during the recently concluded Philippine Bus and Trucks 2019 expo held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, IPC also took the opportunity to introduce the PUV-X program. This vaunted program also provides the optimum “Isuzu Advantage” for public-utility vehicle (PUV) buyers.

This PUV-X program enumerates the Isuzu 10-Point Advantage: 1) Isuzu’s proven reliability, durability and efficiency; 2) Experienced body builders; 3) Accredited accessories suppliers; 4) An unmatched 3 years or 150,000 kms warranty coverage; 5) Nationwide dealership network of 43 outlets and counting; 6) Expert Truck Executives (Truck Elites) to help customers; 7) Nationwide parts availability, competent and trained service technicians, technical assistance from Japanese and Filipino engineers, and Isuzu Service Medic vans for roadside assistance anytime; 8) Drivers and mechanics trainings; 9) Extensive fleet management system, and; 10) All-around customer assistance.

During the event, IPC displayed the NLR77 Class 2 PUV and NLR85 ref van units. Moreover, Isuzu PUV units servicing the Senate Employees Transport Service Cooperative provided free rides to and from the event venue in order to showcase the advanced features of the modern PUV.

Source businessmirror.com.ph

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‘GREEN’ VEHICLES. Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Vince Dizon shows the model “green” shuttle to be used by athletes during the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) this year. A memorandum of agreement was signed by BCDA and Connected Autonomous Shared Transportation (COAST) on Tuesday (Aug. 13, 2019) for the deployment of three fully electric and autonomous or “self-driving” vehicles in New Clark City during the biennial meet. (Photo by Marna Dagumboy-del Rosario)

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — Asia’s first “green” and innovative vehicles will ply the streets of the New Clark City come October for use by the South East Asian (SEA) Games athletes.

This, as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Connected Autonomous Shared Transportation (COAST) signed on Tuesday the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the deployment of three autonomous fully electric and “green” vehicles in New Clark City to be utilized during the regional athletic meet.

Committed to developing a green and modern metropolis, BCDA president and CEO Vince Dizon and Coast Autonomous Chair and CEO David Hickey, led the signing ceremony held at the One West Aeropark Building, Clark Global City for the pilot testing of the three low-speed autonomous or “self-driving” vehicles.

In a press conference, Dizon said the vehicles that are fully electric and with zero carbon footprint are the first in Asia.

He said COAST will provide three electric Coast P-1 Shuttles at no cost to the government.

“This is truly a very exciting day. On behalf of CDA, I want to thank COAST Autonomous for working with us,” Dizon said.

He said the vehicles will run at a maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour and will arrive in the country for the pilot testing ahead of the SEA Games.

“BCDA and COAST share the same vision for the future: cities must be liveable by removing traffic and connecting people with clean mobility options that put pedestrians first,” Hickey said.

Under the agreement, COAST will provide and use high-definition and 3D mapping machines to determine the route of each vehicle for it to operate on its own, and transport passengers to and from the Athlete’s Village, the Athletic Stadium and the Aquatics Center.

“COAST Autonomous has developed its vehicles to adapt to the appropriate speed for the environment,“ said Pierre Lefevre, COAST’s chief technology officer.

“The vehicles are not dependent on GPS (global positioning system) and thus, can operate in urban canyons created by tall buildings, under tree canopies and even underground or in tunnels. COAST’s Technology is highly flexible and makes cities and campuses more walkable. The future mobility should be connected, autonomous, shared and electric,” he added.

Clark will serve as the main hub during this year’s SEA Games, with the construction of world-class sports complex in the New Clark City.

There are 56 sports to be played in by nearly 10,000 athletes from 11 countries at the biennial event.

The 11 countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

Source: pna.gov.ph

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) wants to start building the Subic-Clark railway project by the first half of 2020, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The train line is part of the DOTr’s plan to create a logistics hub in Central Luzon. The Subic-Clark railway will span some 71 kilometers and will be built and funded by Chinese companies.

“We want to start construction of the Subic-Clark railway by the first quarter at the earliest next year or the second quarter at the latest,” Tugade said last week.

The project will link the historic Port of Subic in Zambales—a former Unites States naval base until the early 1990s—and an emerging metropolis in Clark in Pampanga, where the province’s international airport is being expanded.

“We are expected to commence the process wherein we will be able to connect the cargo operation between Clark and Subic by rail,” Tugade added.

He said the Chinese Embassy had submitted a list of three Chinese contractors.

Without elaborating, he said one of those contractors was disqualified and needed to be replaced. The DOTr did not immediately respond to a request seeking added details.

The project is in step with the DOTr’s plan to expand the current 77-km of railway lines (Metro Rail Transit Line-3, Light Rail Transit-1, LRT 2 and Philippine National Railways) to about 322 km by the end of 2022.

Including projects still under construction, that footprint will increase to 1,900 km, the department said earlier.

Big-ticket items are the 30-km Metro Manila subway and the 147-km North-South railway, which will link Calamba in Laguna to Clark, Pampanga. Both of those will be funded by the Japanese government.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government will also fund the 581-km PNR Bicol line and the Mindanao railway project, whose first phase will stretch 102 km from Tagum to Digos.

New railway projects that started are the Ayala Corp.-Metro Pacific Investments Corp.’s 12-km LRT 1 Cavite extension project, the 37.6-km North-South Commuter Railway project Phase 1 (Tutuban in Manila to Malolos, Bulacan) and San Miguel Corp.’s 23-km MRT 7. These are carryovers from the previous administration.

Source: business.inquirer.net

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Photo Credit: carmudi.com.ph

A total of 55 erring policemen are set to undergo a 30-day reformation program in Subic, Zambales, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday.

The program dubbed as the Focused Reformation and Reorientation and Moral Enhancement for Police Officers in Line with Internal Cleansing Efforts (FORM POLICE) is a month-long training that aims to address the increasing number of wayward policemen.

PNP chief Police General Oscar Albayalde said FORM POLICE is a more effective retraining program to correct misdemeanors and other less serious prohibited acts committed by errant police personnel.

“Let me emphasize that FORM police is not a punishment, rather a restorative approach of internal cleansing through a continuing retraining program that personnel must undergo to promote our desire to completely reform the organization,” Albayalde said.

Albayalde said a total of 5,582 erring cops have been recorded from July 2016 to June 2019. He said the reformation program is being done batch by batch.

The PNP said the crimes or offenses which were committed by the erring policemen include crime against person, crime against property, bribery or extortion, AWOL (absent without leave), irregularities in the performance of duty and procedural lapse in handling drug cases.

Albayalde urged those who will undergo the reformative program to reflect on their mistakes so that their retraining would be fruitful.

“Make maximum use of the time to reflect… huwag lang kayong magalit sa akin o sa mga opisyal dito… you reflect then you’ll see… then probably maliwanagan kayo bakit natin ginagawa ito,” he said.

Source: gmanetwork.com

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