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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JOB FAIR Participants and Venue Lay Out
November 6, 2017 – Monday
10:00 am – onwards
Second Level, Harbor Point Mall

Career Fair Employer list:

01 Property Ventures Corp.
Amerasia International Terminal Services, Inc.
AZ Contracting System Services
Broadwater Marine
Charlton Asianic Corp.
CMP Freeport Inc.
Datian Subic
DJ Aerospace
Emerald Garden (PETROL) Harbor Point
Exact Star
Executive Genesis Manpower Services
Freshaire Salon
Global Group of Companies
Grand Food Venue
Hitachi Terminal Mechatronics Phil. Corp.
Inn Asia Corp.
Koryo Subic
Laus Group of Companies
Lindberg AG-A4
Linneman
MAG Engineering Services
Mega Subic Terminal
OEDC
Olongapo Food Corp.
Pacific Ace Savings Bank Inc.
Rock Oil Central Trading Corp.
Samer Global Manpower Services
Sanyo Denki Phils.
Saver6.Com
SBPhil Development Corp.
SCCD Corp.
S-Corp. Phils. Inc.
Sinosun Subic Bay Holdings, Corp.
Subic Shipbuilder Corp.
Sunverde Hotels & Resorts
Tollways Management Corp.
Toyota Subic
Tree Top Adventure
Value Chain Solutions, Inc.
WDE Care Manpower Services
The Light House Marina
MBL
Premier-Slag Terminal
Career Express
Temeneco
Ang45
D’Jobsite General Services Inc. (Petron Subic)
Fiesta Community / Hausland
Wild Orchid
Octomic
Jeannie’s Touch
RSU
Dataworkx
Ang De Food House
Suzuki Beach & Hotel
I Cove Beach Hotel
Sam’s Group of Companies
Fahrenheit
Atrium Salon & SPA
Dermcare
Statheone
Absolute Service Inc.
SM Supermarket
4B Constructions
Ace Hardware
Colorsteel
Kaakbay sa Kinabukasan
Arvato
Keppel
Maxim de Humana
Phil. Oppo Mobile Tech.
Puregold Duty Free
Savemore
Sutherland
Iqor
ZMMG
ETN Beauty Concepts, Inc.
Landtrade Marketing
Kenny Rogers Roaster
Ram-Jon Builders
New Star / Imart
Jamby Marketing Corp.
HYS-Yacht Phils., Corp.
Keystone
ADTHEC

Source: facebook.com

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Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), a unit of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), aired its support for the waiver of the US$200 accreditation fee by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for new logistics firms that will transact and do business at the Freeport.

By James A. Loyola

Photo by: portcalls.com

SBITC lauded SBMA’s move allowing ship agents, freight forwarders, brokerage firms and truckers an “open window access for container port-related businesses” in the Subic Bay Freeport.

From October 18 to December 31, SBMA waived the US$200 accreditation fee for the first 80 new business entrants and the first 20 accredited entities due for renewal provided that these firms guarantee to bring in at least one container within one month from filing of application or renewal of SBMA’s accreditation certificate.

“We support and laud this SBMA initiative of waiving the Freeport’s accreditation fee. Not only will this foster brisk business in Subic, it will further position Subic as a key logistics hub in the country with new logistics firms expected to hold their offices and operations in the Freeport,” said SBITC General Manager Robert R. Locsin.

He added that, “on our end, we assure SBMA and the Subic logistics firms — existing, new and upcoming — of ICTSI’s brand of world-class operations and services at the New Container Terminals (NCT) 1 and 2, including our new container freight station (CFS) facility. You have an international trading gateway that has access to global markets.”

SBMA chairperson and administrator Atty. Wilma T. Eisma issued the waiver to showcase and broaden industry awareness on the use of the Freeport’s container terminals, including the terminals’ increase in container traffic and port utilization.

The move is also seen to support the Port of Manila by easing container flow and road traffic in and around Manila’s port areas.

The accreditation fee holiday is also in line with Atty. Eisma’s 10-point agenda that would further small and medium enterprises, including supply chain businesses, in the Freeport, and as SBMA’s contribution in the promotion of inclusive business.

“We are one with Atty. Eisma in the promotion of inclusive business strategies in Subic. We need to provide added value to stakeholders and businesses in the supply chain by assuring them that Subic is the best place to do business,” said Locsin.

He noted that, “we have an efficient, world class port, faster processing times with our one-stop-shop, a CFS inside the terminal to assist a seamless supply chain, the latest in port technology, and innovations in the nation’s port system.”

“Our efforts will have a direct impact on Subic, and even on the national economy: Market competitiveness and profitability for enterprises, more jobs and lower costs of goods for the consumer,” said Locsin.

Source: business.mb.com.ph

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TOKYO – Japan will provide close to P60 billion in loans to the Philippines to support three key infrastructure and development projects, including the establishment of a subway system in Metro Manila.

By Alexis Romero

President Duterte talks with Japanese Emperor Akihito as his partner Honeylet Avanceña talks with Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo yesterday. Returning to Davao City last night, Duterte said he was impressed with the simplicity of Japan’s royal couple.

Statements from the Japanese foreign ministry said the 129.857-billion-yen ($1.143-billion) assistance forms part of the 1-trillion-yen financial package for Philippine development projects pledged by Japan last year.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe committed to provide the loan on the first day of President Duterte’s visit here.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the terms of the loans are friendly, citing the robust ties between the Philippines and Japan.

“It’s really development assistance. It’s like giving a friend a very good deal,” Lopez told reporters yesterday. “It’s like a friend helping another friend.”

As much as 104.53-billion yen may be given to support the first phase of the Metro Manila Subway Project.

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The project seeks to help address traffic congestion in Metro Manila, ease air pollution and promote investments in the Philippines.

The interest rate for the loan is 0.1 percent per annum while the repayment period is 28 years after a 12-year grace period.

About 800-billion yen (P356 billion) is needed to complete the subway project. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Japan may extend as much as $6 billion or about 600-billion yen in loans for the subway.

“There is a commitment from Prime Minister Abe himself about a $6-billion investment in a subway in the Philippines. This will be a tremendous help to the traffic problem in the country,” Roque said.

“A subway is long delayed. I’m very glad to announce that in this trip, the $6-billion investment was formalized,” he added.

Part of the multibillion-peso loan will also fund the third phase of the arterial road bypass project, which costs about 9.399-billion yen.

The project seeks to help relieve traffic congestion and improve transportation capacity and efficiency in Plaridel City by building a bypass road along the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway. The highway directly links Metro Manila with Central Luzon.

The interest rate for the road bypass project is 1.5 percent per annum while the repayment period is 20 years after a grace period of 10 years.

Japan is also providing a 15.928-billion yen loan to fund the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project, which is expected to reduce flood damage in the province.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano and Japan Foreign Minister Taro Kano exchanged notes on the project loan in the presence of Duterte and Abe last Monday.

The rate of interest for the loan is 0.3 percent per annum while the repayment period is 30 years after a 10-year grace period.

Currency conversion

Roque said Japan has also announced an agreement allowing the conversion of yen to Philippine peso.

“The peso and yen are now convertible. That will be of tremendous help to OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) because they lose money when they convert to dollar first before converting to peso,” Roque said.

Roque said Japan is also looking into investing $2 billion in a liquefied natural gas facility in the south.

The Japanese government has also committed to provide the Philippines 40 patrol boats to strengthen its maritime defense capacity, he added.

Roque said the assistance provided by Japan had nothing to do with maritime disputes in the region. There were speculations that Japan is assisting the Philippines to solicit support on its own dispute with China over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

“I do not see why there is an ongoing race between China and Japan,” Roque said.

“There’s a policy of a veer towards Asia and I think the ever improving ties between Asian countries, including both Asia and Japan, is a proof that we are not favoring one Asian country as against another,” he added.

Roque said the giving of assistance by Japan is part of “soft diplomatic policy.”

“As Filipinos, we welcome all countries to be our friends as well. But I’m not aware of any reciprocal obligation imposed on us. It was freely given to us, of course it’s an investment,” Roque said.

“And I think as far as the Japanese government and Japanese businesses are concerned, they consider the Philippines as a viable destination for their investments,” he added. Roque said the Philippines can give back to Japan by being a “good friend.”

Business deals

A total of 18 business deals have been signed during Duterte’s two-day visit here.

The agreements can generate $6 billion worth of new investments. The trade department signed agreements with Marubeni Corp., Itochu Corp., Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd., Taiheiyo Cement Corp., Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Ministop Co. Ltd. and Lawson Inc.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority signed deals with List Co. Ltd., Newcoast Southbeach Realty Inc. and Subic Smart Community Corp.

Japan Tobacco Inc. inked an agreement with the finance department while Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd. signed a deal with the energy department.

Hitachi Asia signed an agreement with Bases Conversion and Development Authority while Ubicon Holdings Inc. inked a deal with Advanced World Solutions Inc. and Alsons/AWS Information Systems Inc.

Densan System Co. Ltd. signed a deal with CIS Bayad Center Inc. while Hitachi Ltd. and Nuclear Energy Business Unit Koji Tanaka inked an agreement with Meralco.

Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Ltd. and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. inked an agreement with Federal Land Inc.; Yamato Kogyo forged an agreement with Steel Asia Manufacturing Corp. while Itochu Corp. inked a deal with Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

Promise fulfilled

Meanwhile, Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito expressed confidence Japan will fulfill its promises to help develop the country’s infrastructure.

Ejercito, vice chairman of the Senate committee on public service, joined President Duterte’s official delegation to Japan.

He said he was “super happy” and grateful to the commitments made by the Japanese government, particularly on funding a subway in Metro Manila and assisting in the rehabilitation of Marawi City.

“With their pledge to undertake subway project for Metro Manila, I am very, very happy! It is like a dream come true for me! Have been advocating this (subway) for the longest time,” Ejercito told reporters.

He said Abe told Duterte the subway could be partially operational before the end of the term of Duterte.

He recalled Japan during the time of prime minister Obuchi committed to his father, then president Joseph Estrada, that Tokyo would help build SCTEX and some airports and it delivered on its promises.

“So I am confident Japan will honor its pledges and commitments,” Ejercito said, adding it appeared that Abe “loves the Philippines.”

Ejercito earlier filed a bill seeking to establish the Mindanao railway system. He said while putting up new commuter and cargo lines will be very expensive, the benefits to the economy will pay for their cost many times over.

“Trains will greatly reduce the cost, and speed up the transport of goods and people, aside from easing congestion,” Ejercito said.

He said he hopes that train lines from Manila to Malolos, Bulacan; Calamba, Laguna; Laguna; and to Sorsogon will be developed. He also pushed for metro railways in Cebu and Panay

Source: philstar.com

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