The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has imposed a shellfish ban in the coastal waters off Bataan due to the presence of red tide toxins.

By Franco Regala

(Mark Balmores / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

On this regard, the consumption, harvesting or marketing of shellfish such as tahong (mussels), talaba (oysters), tulya (clams), and other types of shellfish taken from the affected areas are prohibited.

In a November 16 advisory, the BFAR-Regional Fishes and Laboratory 3 and Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), said the shellfish samples collected from Bataan coastal waters of Orani, Samal, Hermosa, Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Abucay, and Balanga City tested positive for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning.

“The toxin level collected from the said areas is at 61 to 1200 ugSTXeg/100g of shellfish meat which is above the regulatory limit of 60 micrograms per 100 grants of shellfish meat,” BFAR region 3 director Wilfredo M. Cruz said.

The agency said it will come out with a new advisory once the toxicity level in the coastal waters goes down.

The BFAR earlier declared the coastal waters of Zambales and Pangasinan free of red tide.

Source: news.mb.com.ph

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: A worker of Hanjin shipyard at the Redondo Peninsula here died after falling about 60 feet from the top of a cargo tank he was working on in another accident that shipyard management described as the result of the victim doing unauthorized activity during working hours.

Shipbuilder Jerome Cenas, from Butuan City, was rushed to the Baypointe Hospital across Redondo Peninsula here for treatment but died the following day.

A report by Hanjin management, a copy of which was shown to The Manila Times, said Cenas was possibly resting or lying down on the scaffold after finishing his task earlier than scheduled.

It added that there was insufficient supervision by the person in-charge. The work assignment of the unit is to grind the under deck and some areas at the bottom of cargo tank 5 until 5 p.m.

Cenas and another coworker, Hargen Joniega, finished their work at about 3 p.m. and their next task was supposed to be given at 6 p.m. for overtime work.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority officials said its Law Enforcement Department is conducting its own investigation of the accident.

Source: manilatimes.net

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Runners take on various hues at the start of the “Color Run”, one of the more colorful activities in the run-up to the 25th Founding Anniversary Celebration of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority on Nov. 24.

Workers and residents in the Subic Bay Freeport participate in a Zumba session along the Waterfront Road in the Subic Bay Freeport, as part of the program in the run-up to the 25thFounding Anniversary Celebration of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority on Nov. 24.

Visitors take photographs of various military aircraft on display at the Subic Bay International Airport in the run-up to the 25th Founding Anniversary Celebration of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority on Nov. 24.

Source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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Local visitors and tourists alike can now enjoy the majestic view of Subic Bay with the dignified Philippine national flag flying on its pole 24-hours a day, including weekends.

This developed following the amendment of Republic Act No. 8491, also known as “The Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines,” to designate the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as a place where the Philippine flag should be permanently hoisted.

The biggest Philippine flag in the country flies proudly at the SBMA main office in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said that she has received from Executive Director Ludovico Badoy of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) a copy of NHCP Board Resolution No. 8, s. 2017, which amended Section 19 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 8491.

“This allows us to fly the Philippine flag 24 hours a day, and every day of the week,” Eisma said. “And this is an honor we gladly receive, and a matter of deep pride for the SBMA,” she added.

Eisma said that as the SBMA is holding a month-long celebration for its 25th year anniversary that will culminate on November 24, the Philippine flag would again be at the center of the celebration because most of the activities are held in front of the SBMA administration building where the huge flag is located.

She added that a plaque from the NHCP attesting to the agency’s privilege to continuously fly the Philippine flag will be installed on the base of the flagpole fronting the SBMA office along the Waterfront Road here.

In June this year, SBMA Deputy Administrator for Administration Ruel John Kabigting wrote the NHCP regarding the SBMA’s intention to keep the Philippine flag, the biggest in the country, constantly flying, even during weekends and holidays.

“We wanted to give thousands of tourists who come to Subic Freeport the opportunity to behold and pay homage to the Philippine flag,” Kabigting said.

He noted that Philippine flag at the SBMA office is 44 feet long and 22 feet wide, and because it is flown atop a 120-feet high flagpole, is highly visible from many points in the Freeport.

“However, it is pitiful that visitors coming during weekends only see the flagpole without the huge Philippine flag flying at its top,” Kabigting said.

Kabigting said that flying the biggest Philippine flag in the country is a matter of pride and honor for every Filipino, “especially at this time when our sovereignty, territorial and exclusive economic rights are being challenged in the West Philippine Sea, and most recently the rebellion in the Marawi City.”

According to SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Public Works Marcelino Sanqui, the flagpole upon which the biggest Philippine flag is hoisted also has historical symbolism.

He said the 94 feet in its total height of 120 feet stands for the 94 years of American occupation of Subic Bay; the next 18 feet for the heads of states who attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference in Subic in 1996; and the remaining eight feet for the 8,000 volunteers who helped preserve Subic Bay facilities when the United States Navy withdrew in 1992.

Sanqui, who supervised the erection of the said flagpole in 1997, said the flagpole itself symbolizes national dignity and liberty, volunteerism and malasakit, and progress and development.

“It is dedicated to all volunteers who served and contributed their time, effort and skills to preserve and protect the former US Naval Base, which is now a bustling industrial center and tourism destination,” he added.

Source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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The Subic Bay Freeport Zone has again gained international attention when it garnered two awards in the International Finance Awards 2017 given out by the London-based International Finance Magazine (IFM), a financial market information group.

PHOTOS: Fastest Growing Free Trade Zone in Asia award and Best Social Responsibility Initiative award

Under the Financial Awards category, the Subic Bay Freeport Zone was named the “Fastest Growing Free Trade Zone” in Asia while the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) was recognized in the same category for its “Best Social Responsibility Initiative”.

The IFM awards recognize and honor individuals and organisations in the international finance industry that make a significant difference and add value, as well as herald the highest standards of innovation and performance.

Organizers said the IFM awards make a concerted effort to shine the spotlight on organizations in niche segments and those that exhibit brilliance in the unsung corners of the finance industry.
The other winners from the Philippines are: BPI Asset Management, as “Best Asset Manager”; Omnipay, as “Best Payment Solutions Provider”; and RCBC Bankard Services Corporation, “Best Credit Card Offerings”.

The awards will be handed out next year during the IFM Annual Award Ceremony scheduled on January 26 in Singapore.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma said it is “both an honor and privilege to be counted among IFM’s roster of excellence.”

“These awards, which come on the eve of SBMA’s 25th year anniversary, inspire us not only to celebrate our past but more importantly, to forge our country’s future for the sake of our children and future generations by continuing to make a difference and adding value to Filipino lives,” she added.

Subic Bay’s first award recognized its emergence as a flagship of the Philippine economy and a catalyst of growth in the region.

To date, the Subic Bay Freeport has a total of more than 126,000 workers employed by a total of 2,897 companies variously engaged in shipbuilding and other marine-related business, tourism, ICT, manufacturing, and services. With committed investments surpassing the $1.4-billion mark in the first quarter of this year, SBMA officials expect Subic to make more significant strides in the Philippine economy in the coming years.

The second award cited the SBMA for identifying the social needs of the indigenous Ayta community in the Subic Freeport area and taking the initiative to positively impact the social status, earning potential and access to services of the members of the tribe.

Last week, the Subic Bay Freeport was also recognized as the Best Sports Tourism Destination of the Year during the Third Sports Industries Awards and Conference Asia held in Bangkok, Thailand.

In the same event, the SBMA won the silver award for Best Sponsorship of a Sport, Team or Event for sponsoring triathlon events here in 2014 to 2016.

Meanwhile, SBMA Chairman Eisma was adjudged among this year’s winners in the search for the “100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World”, which recognizes Filipino women who are influencing the face of leadership in the global workplace.

Eisma received the award during the 14th Filipina Leadership Global Summit scheduled on October 25-29 in Toronto, Canada.

Source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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