Subic Updater

Floats, history mark City fiesta parade

2011-12-26T09:31:00.001+08:00

“A depiction of the city’s rich and colorful history.”

This, says Bugsy delos Reyes, is what residents will see at the fiesta parade “Balik-Tanaw 2011.”
“It will be simple and meaningful. There will be at least 14 floats showing the various periods of our city’s history, from pre-Spanish, Spanish, American, the Pinatubo period and present day situation,’ Delos Reyes, the fiesta chair, told the Olongapo News.

He also stressed that the city’s rich arts and culture tradition is another impor-tant theme in the City Fiesta celebrations.
“We have Cinemalaya. We have Wow Artistang ‘Gapo Ito! (WAGI) and we have other shows like Talentadong Pinoy of ABC-5 as showcases of the festivities,’ he adds.

More floats
The Fiesta parade is the traditional highlight of the Fiesta activities.
“Kesa puro tao na naglalakad may hawak na tarpaulin at nagba-bato ng candies ang makikita, let’s have more colorful floats for the people to appreciate. Add the arts and history theme and it will be worth watching and joining,” the neophyte councilor, who owns and runs his own dinner cruise in Manila Bay, said.
The 14 floats were assigned to the various departments of the city government, including a few more contributed by the different groups and companies.

A unique fiesta
The city’s fiesta cele-bration is unique as it honors Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, rather than a particular Roman Catholic saint as traditionally prac-ticed in various parts of the country.
According to www.-olongapofiesta.com, the official website of the committee, the American administrators in the early 1900s had to follow the local Roman Catholic fiesta tradition—a time to give thanks to the Almighty and to make plans for improve-ments of the town.
But many prominent families were members of religious groups such as Aglipayan Church, Methodist Episcopal Church, the Seventh Day Adven-tists, the Church of Christ and the Iglesia ni Cristo.
To accommodate all the religious dominations, the Americans decided on a secular center for the fiesta and introduced Rizal Day (December 30) as the town fiesta.

Improve health
The funds raised by the Fiesta activities will go to barangay health centers in the form of equipment and medicines.
According to some barangay officials, health workers receive between P500 to P1500 monthly allowance depending on the available funds.
“These are the people who climb up hills to provide medical services to our people. They need our help so that they can in return, help our communities,” Bugsy explained.
Plans are afoot to make specialized centers to maximize resources in populated barangays in small areas like the cluster of New Ilalim, New Kababae and Bancain.
“One is a lying in clinic. The other can be a dental center. Maybe the other can specialize on pediatrics. The United Architect of the Philippines (UAP) Quezon City, as an example, pledged to support the New Ilalim center,’ delos Reyes said.

Best in December
Aside from Cinemalaya, the city will have a drum and lyre competition and a lantern parade at the East Tapinac Oval Track on December 9th.
Among the other events lined up are the Christmas Eve Mass at the Rizal Trinagle on Decem-ber 24th, the last canvassing of the City Fiesta Queen, a Cultural night for Balik-Bayan on December 27 and the City Fiesta Queen coronation night the fol-lowing day.
“I urge companies, groups and well-meaning residents to join us. This is a celebration of the our city and all the blessing that came our way this yea

Gordon faces charges on Bazaar affair

2011-12-09T12:56:00.001+08:00

City Mayor James Gordon Jr., was charged of grave abuse of authority and gross negligence before the Om-budsman for allowing organi-zers of the Christmas Bazaar to occupy public spaces in violation of the New Civil Code of the Philippines.

The complaint was filed by Vice Mayor Rolen Paulino, councilor Noel Atienza and councilor Lugerna Sarah Lipumano Garcia last November 17 at the office of the Ombuds-man for Luzon.

Included in the charge is Aliah Dimakuta, organizer of the Christmas Night Bazaar.

In their 7-page complaint-affidavit, Paulino, Atienza and Lipumano-Garcia accused Gordon of grave abuse of authority and gross negligence for ‘allowing the use of public streets despite clear prohibition as mandated by laws and jurisprudence.’

The affidavit was subscribed and sworn to before assistant city prosecutor Vangeline Tiongson last November 16.

Mayor Gordon signed into law an ordinance in October 25, 2011 “temporarily closing portions of the Gordon Avenue Area and Volunteers Park Area from October 10, 2011 to Janaury 10, 2012 for the Christmas Night Bazaar.”

He also approved a city council resolution for Haniah and Aliah Company to conduct a Christmas Bazaar along Perimeter St. and along Gordon Avenue area.

The three also alleged that bazaar operators were allowed to occupy a portion of Magsaysay Drive, contrary to the stated locations in the approved measuresThey added that the stalls were allowed to be put up on October 10, 2011, more than two weeks before the measures were passed by the city council.

The Olongapo News sought the comments Mayor Gordon through the Public Affairs Office, but have yet to receive a reply as of press time.

Not for lease
Article 424 of the New Civil Code states that “property for public use, in the provinces, cities and municipalities, consists of the provincial roads, city streets, municipal streets, the squares, fountains, public waters promenades and public works for public service paid by provinces, cities and municipalities.”

“This Bazaar is patently illegal because the public areas are beyond the com-merce of men and cannot be the subject of any con-tractual relation whether for consideration of for free,” Atienza explained.

He cited several Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decisions ruling that “areas for public use are beyond the commerce of men” and that these areas “cannot be disposed of or even leased by the municipality to private parties.”

P250K for 3 months
During the deliberation of the measures in the city council, proponent councilor Gina Perez said that the city will generate P250,000 from the Bazaar.

“This,” Paulino said, “is disadvantageous to the city government.”

In a letter sent to councilor Gina Perez, Conrado Tiu, President of Conti Group, said that simi-lar bazaar stall inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone are rented P120,000 for three months.

Businessmen have asked Mayor Gordon to transfer the bazaar to a more appropriate location saying it causes logistics, traffic, sanitation and secu-rity problem for them and their patrons.

Even Freeport workers rue that the stalls blocked the passage ways causing severe inconvenience for those entering and leaving the economic zone.

Some bazaar patrons, however, said that they are “happy with the location.”

“Mas mura dito kesa sa malls. Kung legal o illegal, kasalan nila ‘yon,” a 24-year-old mother who frequents the bazaar said.(30)

Floats, history mark City fiesta parade

2011-12-08T18:38:00.001+08:00

“A depiction of the city’s rich and colorful history.”

This, says Bugsy delos Reyes, is what residents will see at the fiesta parade “Balik-Tanaw 2011.”

“It will be simple and meaningful. There will be at least 14 floats showing the various periods of our city’s history, from pre-Spanish, Spanish, American, the Pinatubo period and present day situation,’ Delos Reyes, the fiesta chair, told the Olongapo News.

He also stressed that the city’s rich arts and culture tradition is another impor-tant theme in the City Fiesta celebrations.

“We have Cinemalaya. We have Wow Artistang ‘Gapo Ito! (WAGI) and we have other shows like Talentadong Pinoy of ABC-5 as showcases of the festivities,’ he adds.

More floats
The Fiesta parade is the traditional highlight of the Fiesta activities.

“Kesa puro tao na naglalakad may hawak na tarpaulin at nagba-bato ng candies ang makikita, let’s have more colorful floats for the people to appreciate. Add the arts and history theme and it will be worth watching and joining,” the neophyte councilor, who owns and runs his own dinner cruise in Manila Bay, said.

The 14 floats were assigned to the various departments of the city government, including a few more contributed by the different groups and companies.

A unique fiesta
The city’s fiesta cele-bration is unique as it honors Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero, rather than a particular Roman Catholic saint as traditionally prac-ticed in various parts of the country.

According to www.-olongapofiesta.com, the official website of the committee, the American administrators in the early 1900s had to follow the local Roman Catholic fiesta tradition—a time to give thanks to the Almighty and to make plans for improve-ments of the town.

But many prominent families were members of religious groups such as Aglipayan Church, Me-thodist Episcopal Church, the Seventh Day Adven-tists, the Church of Christ and the Iglesia ni Cristo.

To accommodate all the religious dominations, the Americans decided on a secular center for the fiesta and introduced Rizal Day (December 30) as the town fiesta.

Improve health
The funds raised by the Fiesta activities will go to barangay health centers in the form of equipment and medicines.

According to some barangay officials, health workers receive between P500 to P1500 monthly allowance depending on the available funds.

“These are the people who climb up hills to provide medical services to our people. They need our help so that they can in return, help our communities,” Bugsy explained.

Plans are afoot to make specialized centers to maximize resources in populated barangays in small areas like the cluster of New Ilalim, New Kababae and Bancain.

“One is a lying in clinic. The other can be a dental center. Maybe the other can specialize on pediatrics. The United Architect of the Philippines (UAP) Quezon City, as an example, pledged to support the New Ilalim center,’ delos Reyes said.

Best in December
Aside from Cinemalaya, the city will have a drum and lyre competition and a lantern parade at the East Tapinac Oval Track on December 9th.

Among the other events lined up are the Christmas Eve Mass at the Rizal Trinagle on Decem-ber 24th, the last canvassing of the City Fiesta Queen, a Cultural night for Balik-Bayan on December 27 and the City Fiesta Queen coronation night the fol-lowing day.

“I urge companies, groups and well-meaning residents to join us. This is a celebration of the our city and all the blessing that came our way this year,” delos Reyes said. (30)

This time, a South Korean 200-MW coal plant

2011-12-01T22:40:00.001+08:00

Still reeling from what newly-appointed officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) call a “questionable” 600-MW coal-fired power plant deal, now Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp. (HHIC) wants its own 200-MW power facility.

And this time, it seems no less than President Noynoy Aquino is pushing the project.

The Department of Energy (DoE) recently gave a green light for South Korean energy firm Kepco to ‘study the feasibility’ of putting up a 200-MW coal-fired power plant within the Hanjin shipyard.

Reports quoted Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras “that the 200 MW that the plant would generate would be just about enough to cover all of HHIC-Philippines’ power requirements.”

“Anything in excess could be fed to the grid but I don’t think that’s part of Hanjin’s plans at the moment,”he told reporters.

The evaluation will be in partnership with the Knowledge and Energy department of the South Korean government.

KEPCO Philippines operates four power plants in the country, including the Naga Power Plant Complex and the Cebu Power Plant.

The company's operations account for 12% of the country's installed generation capacity.

The parent company, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), is a state-run utility firm generating 93% of power in South Korea.

Its website said that the company develops electric power projects including those in nuclear power, wind power and coal.

Data from the DOE show that the country’s power demand is growing by about 4 percent a year, which means the grid requires about 300 MW of new capacity every year to maintain the current level of power reserves.(30)

Mayor Bong Gordon faces charges for Bazaar affair

2011-11-30T19:56:00.001+08:00

City Mayor James Gordon Jr., was charged of grave abuse of authority and gross negligence before the Om-budsman for allowing organi-zers of the Christmas Bazaar to occupy public spaces in violation of the New Civil Code of the Philippines.

The complaint was filed by Vice Mayor Rolen Paulino, councilor Noel Atienza and councilor Lugerna Sarah Lipumano Garcia last November 17 at the office of the Ombuds-man for Luzon.

Included in the charge is Aliah Dimakuta, organizer of the Christmas Night Bazaar.

In their 7-page complaint-affidavit, Paulino, Atienza and Lipumano-Garcia accused Gordon of grave abuse of authority and gross negligence for ‘allowing the use of public streets despite clear prohibition as mandated by laws and jurisprudence.’

The affidavit was subscribed and sworn to before assistant city prosecutor Vangeline Tiongson last November 16.
Mayor Gordon signed into law an ordinance in October 25, 2011 “temporarily closing portions of the Gordon Avenue Area and Volunteers Park Area from October 10, 2011 to Janaury 10, 2012 for the Christmas Night Bazaar.”

He also approved a city council resolution for Haniah and Aliah Company to conduct a Christmas Bazaar along Perimeter St. and along Gordon Avenue area.

The three also alleged that bazaar operators were allowed to occupy a portion of Magsaysay Drive, contrary to the stated locations in the approved measures.

They added that the stalls were allowed to be put up on October 10, 2011, more than two weeks before the measures were passed by the city council.

The Olongapo News sought the comments Mayor Gordon through the Public Affairs Office, but have yet to receive a reply as of press time.

Not for lease
Article 424 of the New Civil Code states that “property for public use, in the provinces, cities and municipalities, consists of the provincial roads, city streets, municipal streets, the squares, fountains, public waters promenades and public works for public service paid by provinces, cities and municipalities.”

“This Bazaar is patently illegal because the public areas are beyond the com-merce of men and cannot be the subject of any con-tractual relation whether for consideration of for free,” Atienza explained.

He cited several Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decisions ruling that “areas for public use are beyond the commerce of men” and that these areas “cannot be disposed of or even leased by the municipality to private parties.”

P250K for 3 months
During the deliberation of the measures in the city council, proponent councilor Gina Perez said that the city will generate P250,000 from the Bazaar.

“This,” Paulino said, “is disadvantageous to the city government.”

In a letter sent to councilor Gina Perez, Conrado Tiu, President of Conti Group, said that simi-lar bazaar stall inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone are rented P120,000 for three months.

Businessmen have asked Mayor Gordon to transfer the bazaar to a more appropriate location saying it causes logistics, traffic, sanitation and secu-rity problem for them and their patrons.

Even Freeport workers rue that the stalls blocked the passage ways causing severe inconvenience for those entering and leaving the economic zone.

Some bazaar patrons, however, said that they are “happy with the location.”

“Mas mura dito kesa sa malls. Kung legal o illegal, kasalan nila ‘yon,” a 24-year-old mother who frequents the bazaar said.(Olongapo News)

Zambales Hardware murder suspect arrested

2011-11-28T18:08:00.001+08:00

Case solved.

This was declared by P/Senior Inspector Cesar Cabling after police arrested Danilo Artita, 42, the main suspect of the gruesome murders of Zambales Hardware owner Leon Ong and his maid Leoniza Herrero.

In an interview with the Olongapo News,Cabling said that murder charges were already filed before the office of the city prosecutor last November 22.

Ong and Herrera were found dead in their home at 45, 18th Street, East Bajac-Bajac, last November 21 by three stay-in employees of Zambales Hardware.

The three employees were identified as Jemar Dolero, 22, Randy Dolero, 25, and Emmanuel Que-jome, 46.

According to police investigators, they were awakened by a scream around 3AM and went outside to find the source.

They instead found Herrera lying dead in the sala while Ong was co-vered in his own blood inside his room located at the second floor of the house.

“Ong sustained 22 stab wounds in the chest while Herrera also had mutiple stab wounds,” Cabling said, adding investigations revealed that Artita was allowed to stay in his house with his wife, Herrera.
After the crime, authorities said that the suspect fled to Cavite.

Police city director Christopher Tambungan formed a team led by Cabling, including P/Senior Inspector Frederick Nueva, SP04 Edgardo Gonzaga, SPO1 Jerome Richard Domingo, P03 Eduardo De Leon, P03 Efren Reyes, Jr., and P01 Christopher Viray, to handle the double murder case.

“Sumilip pa ang suspect sa burol ng asawa. Nasundan na siya ng mga pulis,’ Cabling said.
DZMM reporter Jeff Tombado said that in his interview, Artita admitted kil-ling both out of jealousy and rage.

Tombado was the only reporter able to interview the suspect.

“(Artita) said he woke up at 2:00 am and noticed that his wife, Herrera, left their bed. He waited for her outside their bedroom for about 30 minutes and saw her coming out of Ong’s bedroom,” Tombado related.

He allegedly accosted his wife who ran down the stairs, Tombado said, “sinundan niya daw at sinaksak ng patalim. Pagkatapos, inakyat niya si Ong, sinira ang pinto at pinatay niya,” Tumbado quoted the interview.
Artita, he added, fled to Cavite and sought refuge in a relative’s house.

He was later convinced by relatives to account for his crime.

Dissent brews vs Xmas Bazaar

2011-11-20T00:10:00.001+08:00

(From: Olongapo News)
Businessmen have appealed to Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon, Jr., to remove the Christmas Bazaar located along Magsaysay Drive and Perimeter road, citing a myriad of issues it causes from traffic problems, sanitation to peace and order.

This, after the city government leased portions of Gordon Avenue and Volunteer’s Park along Perimeter road to a night bazaar organizer for three months.

In a letter sent to Mayor Gordon, businessmen sought the transfer of the Bazaar to a different location after severely affecting their businesses.

Maria Jesusa Seva, property manager of Anne Raquel’s building along Magsaysay Drive, said that they have already received complaints from their lessees.

‘Again, may I reiterate my observation that putting these stall here caused logistical turmoil, traffic conjestion, sanitary and security problems,’ Seva explained.

Earlier, a group of 45 business opposed the setting up of the night bazaar along Gordon Avenue, forcing organizers to move some stalls infront of the SM Mall and Anne Raquel’s building.

‘It (the setting up of a Bazaar) has come to our attention and we are not in favor of the said activity in our area,’ they wrote the mayor.

The letter was signed by a mix of salons, internet cafes, laundry shops, bars, religious groups, water refill stations owners and mana-gers, among others.

Relief and rescue fund
In a resolution, the city council authorized Mayor Gordon to allow Haniah and Aliah Company to organize the Christmas Bazaar along Gordon Avenue, Perimeter road, and Volunteer’s Park.

The Olongapo News sought the comments of councilor Gina Perez and city government through the Public Affairs Office, but have not received a reply as of press time.

In a separate letter, Conrad Tiu, president of Conti group, reminded councilor Perez that the law does not allow roads and sidewalks to be leased or used for commerce.

He also asked the lady councilor to whom the sidewalk was leased to, for how long, and how much per square meter.

In an interview, Councilor Noel Atienza told Olongapo News that he will seek a temporary restraining order against the operation of the bazaar.

‘Not only are public spaces illegal to lease out, the Magsaysay Drive portion is not included in the resolution, thus, also illegal,’ he explained.

The approved resolution
alluded to the plight of ‘more than 300 families affected by the typhoon which necessitate gene-ration of public resources to address the requirements of relief and rescue operations.’

The proceeds of the activity, it added, was meant to augment the resources of the Disaster and Mana-gement Office (DMO) for ‘its rescue and relief operations.’

Workers entering the Freeport, meawhile, rued that the stalls obstructed the passage ways and the main gate bridge causing severe inconvenience for them.

‘Hinarang na nila ang Magsaysay, pati tulay sa main gate nilagyan pa nila. Mali na yata itong gina-gawa nila, ilagay lang sana sa tama,’ a Hanjin worker, who asked not to be identified, said.

As of this writing, 6 stalls were put up on the main gate bridge. (30)

Keppel's rush to meet deadline may have caused 6 deaths

2011-10-17T16:41:00.001+08:00

MANILA, Philippines - Government regulators said that Keppel Marine's rush to to complete repair jobs led to the accident two weeks ago, killing six workers and injuring seven others.

In a Senate hearing today, officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that the shipyard management was rushing to complete the retrofitting of the MV Tombarra's ramp.

"Simultaneous repair works were done to fast-track the completion of the project because of the approaching deadline," DOLE undersecretary Lourdes Trasmonte said, citing the results of DOLE's investigation. "This led to inadequate safety and health measure on the job being done at the site."

The retrofitting was done to prevent pirates from attaching hooks to it.

The elevated ramp gave way and fell on the workers below it on October 7, four days before the supposed deadline.

For the first time, DOLE said they will assist the victims in filing criminal raps against Keppel for negligence.

Keppel Subic Shipyard President Mok Kim Whang insisted that safety is his company's top priority.

He added that no accident has happened in the shipyard under his watch.

"It is because of our concern for safety that we face this incident with humility while we discharge our responsibility as consciously as we can," he said.

Whang said that while fitting the finger flaps to the ship's stern ramp, the crane may have accidentally lifted the ramp, destabilizing the tower supporting it.

Whang also assured the committee that Keppel will shoulder all the victims' expenses without asking for anything in return, and that the company will review its processes.

Senate labor committee chairman Jinggoy Estrada said that so far, all fingers point at Keppel for its alleged negligence, but he refused to make any conclusion.

The senator will inspect the shipyard on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Subic Mayor Jefferson Khonghun and police investigators confirmed that they were delayed at the entrance gates of the shipyard by company guards.

Even police authorities were prevented from entering the facility, and were allowed 20 minutes after they arrived at the gates.(30)

Shell chief asks government to shut down Subic Bay Freeport

2011-10-12T11:35:00.000+08:00

MANILA, Philippines - An oil executive asked government to shut down the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to curb smuggling, particularly oil, into the country.

Shell country chairman Edgar Chua said that freeport zones such as the Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales have been the main entry points for petroleum products smuggled into the local market.

He added that aside from oil, cars, grains and other commodities leave the zone without paying taxes.

"Why don't we just shut down these freeports? How much are these freeport zones contributing to the economy? P10 billion? That's just Subic and Phividec. How much are we losing? P14 billion. That's just oil. You know the issues of vehicle manufacturers... and there are many others there," he said.

Pilipinas Shell has raked in billions of pesos of profits last year, but the oil company clarified that taxes were paid.

There are several Shell gas stations in Olongapo and the Zambales areas. (30)

What were you doing last Friday, Keppel Marine?

2011-10-10T12:02:00.002+08:00

UPDATE: Last Friday and Saturday, Keppel Subic Shipyard president Mok Kim Whang urged people not to speculate about the incident. He said that the company is already investigating the accident.

SubicUpdater: Mr. Mok Kim Whang, if you had opened the accident to people who would have brought accurate information to the public, then people would not have speculated. They would have known the truth. If there is anyone who caused this confusion, it is Keppel Subic Shipyard and you in specifically.

We hope that the Subic Shipyard will recover from this blunder. Yes, accidents happen. People can understand that. What they do not understand is why you ordered government officials and journalists from entering the shipyard.

Last Friday, 5 workers were crushed by a 42 ton ramp while seven others were injured at the Subic Shipyard. Scores have also died inside the Hanjin facilities at the Redondo Peninsula. These deaths, according to shipbuilding officials, are expected considering the dangerous nature of their industry.

Almost everyone agrees with this proposition. Industry experts, government (both local and national), safety experts and even the workers.

We don't.

It is unacceptable because it allows two propositions. First, that any accident is inevitable, thus, there is little accountability on the part of the employers. Because it is generally accepted that accident will happen and that the fatalities will likely result, there is a dearth of prosecution of guilty parties involved.

Think of it this way, if a motor vehicle driver loses control of a vehicle and slams into a person/s or property, the police will likely charge the driver with manslaugther or damage to properties.

In the case of deaths in the shipyards facilities in the Subic Bay areas, none have stood before the courts to answer for the deaths of these fathers, brothers, sons and grandsons.

Second, since it is a 'natural occurrence,' there is no public interest involved. This is evident by the latest incident.

Keppel Marine denied entry to Subic town mayor, Jay Khonghun. The good mayor might take it lightly, but the implications are far reaching. It allows Keppel to say to other interested parties --- kung si Mayor hindi namin pinapasok, kayo pa?

Doubts are spurred by their refusal to be transparent about the incident last Friday. Ano ba ang iniisip ninyong gagawin ni Mayor Khonghun kapag pinapasok ninyo siya sa compound? Worse, what could the journalists have done, other than document the incident?

To the officials of Keppel Marine, were you hiding something? Would it be a failed safety protocol? A substandard piece of work that gave way, causing instantaneous and gruesome death for 5 workers? (Update: Six people are now dead.)

We suspect that this attitude was borrowed by Keppel Marine from Hanjin.

Kasi naman, pinapayagan ng pamahalaan.

And if denying entry to government officials and the media after an incident was an item in their standard operating procedure, then it would be a far mortal sin.

In any case, the rule of thumb is that in any death, foul play must be presumed. By refusing to be open to scrutiny of the public, Keppel Marine (and Hanjin) walks the golden path of immunity and wears the an armor of non-accountability.

Would you like to have a person who has God-like powers like that your neighborhood?

We wouldn't. (Subic Updater)

5 killed, 8 injured in Subic Shipyard accident

2011-10-07T13:32:00.004+08:00

LAST UPDATE: Keppel Subic Shipyard president Mok Kim Whang Sunday sadi that they will form a task force to look into the incident. “We are deeply saddened that one of the seven injured workers had passed away in Our Lady of Lourdes International Medical Center, Olongapo City at around 10.15pm last night,” Whang said. “This brings the total number of fatalities to six,” he added.

UPDATE: Subic town Mayor Jay Khonghun said that 5 workers died in the Subic Shipyard. He added that the ramp weighed 42 tons. Earlier reports were sketchy because the Kepple managers refused to let police, government officials and the media, including SubicUpdater into the compound.

Subic, Zambales - Four workers were killed and at least 7 were injured when an ramp collapsed on workers at the Subic Shipyard in Subic, Zambales early this morning (Friday).

Subic town Mayor Jay Khonghun said an elevated ramp gave way and fell on 11 shipyard workers, killing 4 and injuring seven.

He added that it was not clear how the ramp failed but the injured were already rushed to nearby hospitals.

According to its website, Subic Shipyard Engineering Inc. is a shipyard serving ocean going vessels of up to 340,000 dwt. It provides repair, conversion and building services, tank cleaning, internal tank coating as well as voyage repairs for internal tanks using ultra high pressure.

The yard is managed by Keppel Shipyard Limited, whose expertise includes ship repair and conversion, shipbuilding and offshore engineering. It is affiliated to Keppel Philippines Marine, Inc., which owns Keppel Batangas Shipyard and Keppel Cebu Shipyard. (30)

Governor Ebdane orders repair of dike

2011-10-05T18:04:00.000+08:00

SAN FELIPE, Zambales – Governor Jun Ebdane ordered the immediate repair of an eroded portion of the Sto. Tomas River megadike to prevent flooding.

The emergency dike repair was immediately carried out by the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Zambales engineering office.

The province is still reeling from the onslaught of typhoon “Pedring” which battered the coastal areas.

Ebdane said at least 5,120 families consisting of 25,168 persons were affected by the calamity.

A total of 742 families or 2,658 persons were evacuated.

Most of those affected came from the northern towns including Sta. Cruz, Candelaria , Masinloc, and Palauig.

'Trashslide' kills 2 in Gapo

2011-10-03T10:40:00.003+08:00

source: Manila Bulletin, by Jonas Reyes

OLONGAPO CITY, Zambales, Philippines — A “trashslide,” similar to the recent incident in Baguio City in which tons of garbage eroded and wrecked houses, occurred last Tuesday in Barangay Cabalan, here, a belated report from the local government said Saturday.

Tons of garbage cascaded downhill and crashed into five houses in Cabalan in the middle of heavy rain and forceful winds from typhoon “Pedring” around 9 p.m. last September 27.

Lanivie Ganseco, a 26-year-old mother, and her 1-year-old daughter Shaina were killed while a certain Edgardo Doesnt, 35, remains missing.

Edgardo, it was learned, is a brother of comedienne Wilma Doesnt.

Rescue teams from the Philippine Army, the city police, and the barangay have yet to find him under the 30-meter mound of garbage.

'Gapo gets P383-M loan for Landfill

2011-09-28T15:01:00.000+08:00

The Olongapo city government secured a P383 million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines to construct a sanitary landfill and a materials recovery facility in Barangay New Cabalan.

Bank president and chief executive Francisco Del Rosario, Jr. said the loan obtained by Olongapo local government would cover design, development and construction of the Cabalan Sanitary Landfill along with equipment.

DBP earlier extended a loan to Olongapo in 2008 for solid waste management to acquire 7,000 mobile garbage bins for temporary waste storage, and 7 compactor trucks to collect refuse from 17 barangays.

Yesterday, a portion of the dump site collapsed as rain-soaked soil slid into several homes. This is the same location where the proposed landfill and materials recovery facility will be constructed.

Two killed at the height of typhoon Pedring

2011-09-28T13:48:00.004+08:00

Olongapo City -- A landslide in Barangay Mabayuan yesterday killed one while a vehicular accident in Subic town killed another.

The landslide forced a riprap to collapse on a house and killed its occupant, Ryan Anthony Landeza, 19 at 11 15 a.m.

Earlier at 1:15 a.m., heavy rains and strong winds caused a vehicular accident on MacArthur Highway in Subic, Zambales, killing 29-year-old Andrew Fallorina, 29, a resident of Botolan.

Government earns P3.71-billion revenues from Subic Bay

2011-08-28T07:53:00.000+08:00

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — This free port remitted P3.71 billion in revenues to the national treasury amounted for the first half of this year alone, a significant increase of P225 million from last year’s first semester remittance of P3.48 billion.

Cash collections from both the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) contributed to the coffers of the national treasury.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza said that while there was only a slight increase of 6.46 percent in revenue, this still goes to show that the SBMA has sustained growth both in terms of investments and workforce.

Citing records submitted to the SBMA, Arreza said the BoC posted cash collections totaling P3.12 billion in the first semester of this year, surpassing last year’s P2.51 billion by 24.33 percent or a difference of P611 million.(30)

Crane protest in Hanjin shipyard enters 8th month

2011-08-18T14:42:00.003+08:00

A woman labor activist continues to defy calls for her to end her 211 day protest against unfair labor practices at the Hanjin shipyard in Korea.

The 51-year-old welder sneaked into Crane No. 85 last January 6 to condemn layoffs at a major South Korean shipping company in this southern port city.

Kim's situation put to the fore the state of labor in Korea where the law does not force companies to bargain in good faith.

"In South Korea, even basic worker bargaining rights are not guaranteed," Cho Don-moon, a sociologist at Catholic University of Korea in Seoul, was quoted by the Los Angeles Times.

Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction is aware that the protest is hurting their image, both demestically and internationally.

"She has nothing to do with our company, yet she has caused us a lot of harm," said Jung Cheol-seong, a Hanjin spokesman.

In Subic Bay, workers have organized a union, but Hanjin has repeatedly refused to recognize it even if the Philippine government has already recognized the union as the sole collective bargaining agreement for Hanjin shipyard workers.

South Korean officials here have refused to make public statements on the matter in the hope that news of deaths, injuries and unfair labor practices will go away, like the ship they build for their clients.

Just recently, a solidarity march for the union was held by catholic leaders and some trade union federations. Ironically, another Filipino died before the caravan that began in Metro Manila was able to reach the shipyard.

In Korea, workers have died. Some have taken their lives to fight for workers' rights.

In 2003, after waging a three-month vigil to protest working conditions, Kim Ju-ik, a 40-year-old father of three, hanged himself in the crane's control room. His suicide note proclaimed, "This is a country where a laborer has to risk his life to live like a human."

The same control room that Kim no occupies. (with quotes from the Los Angeles Times)

SBMA offers Subic Bay as home to Philippine Dragon Team

2011-08-18T10:31:00.002+08:00

The 2011 world champion Philippine Dragon Team that won 5 gold medals in the United States has a new home in Subic Bay, but they have yet to accept the offer of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Appearing in the religious celebration dubbed 'Feast of San Roque,' SBMA offered the dragon boat team the facilities of Subic Bay for the team's training.

Team manager Maj. Harold Cabunoc welcomed the invitation and said that they will be seriously considering the offer. (30)

Battle against coal plant lost, president of Subic Bay business group says

2011-08-15T18:33:00.000+08:00

The president of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) yesterday waived a white flag of surrender against the construction of the 300MV coal plant at the Redondo Peninsula.

In a statement to his members, SBFCC president Danny Piano, however said that cheaper power rate and cleaner emission is still possible.
(Photo of SBFCC president Danny Piano)

'We cannot fight a fight that is over,' Piano said, noting that the power plant had the backing of previous and present president of the country.

This reaction came after several groups began a public campaign to stop the construction of the coal plant.

He said that nodal billing and open access system that will become effective nationwide late this year.

'Basically, the cost of transmission will depend on how close one is to a power generation plant. The closer we are to one, the cheaper the transmission cost.'

A facebook campaign dubbed 'No to coal plant in Subic Bay' has registered some 1189 supporters, mostly calling for the government and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to cancel the project entirely.

'It is a necessary evil,' Paino told businesses, 'the same as our gas-guzzling cars and SUVs. It is analogous to the reason why we are not all driving hybrid cars—because we cannot afford them.'

But it seems only the chamber is defending the project publicly. To date, the proponent of the project, RP Energy, a consortium led by Meralco, has yet to come up with a public statement.

Even the SBMA has remained silent despite disagreements with the newly appointed board of directors and the current management.

But critics of the plant are not giving up.

A Mindanao-wide conference against coal plants will convene and discuss ways to stop coal plant projects in the country.

In their agenda is a class action suit against the RP Energy and other officials of the government and forms of non-violent direct actions.(30)

Government loses 1,866 confiscated vehicles in Subic Bay

2011-08-11T10:35:00.002+08:00

The Bureau of Customs (BoC) claims that more than 1,800 seized imported vehicles in Subic Bay Freeport Zone are missing and cannot be located.

The imported second-hand luxury vehicles were impounded after an order issued on August 2007 prevented the entry of the vehicles through Subic.

(Photo shows a smuggled BMW SUV vehicle that was crushed in Subic Bay in April, 2009)

In a report, the BoC said that there were 2,907 vehicles that were confiscated by the bureau and were stored in garages. However, a recent inventory conducted by the BoC this year showed that 1,866 vehicles are missing. (30)

Opposition to 300-megawatt Meralco coal plant in Subic Bay intensifying

2011-08-09T10:18:00.000+08:00

Opposition to 300 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Subic Bay is gaining strength after local legislative bodies opposed the plant's the contruction and operation.

(Picture at right shows construction mobilization at power plant site in Redondo Peninsula, Subic Bay)

In a resolution, the provincial board of Zambales and the Subic town council passed a resolution opposing the Meralco-owned coal plant construction at the Redondo Peninsula, Subic, Zambales.

The 300-MV coal plant was approved by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and has secured an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Non-government organizations claim that the project was given an ECC without social acceptability from the community directly affected by the project and its operation.

For its part, Redondo Peninsula Energy (RP Energy) said that it has already complied with the social acceptability requirement of the ECC, proof that is already secured the project's ECC.

But concerned groups are increasing pressure for the government to reverse its decision and withdraw the ECC.

A Facebook page was set up by a certain Jasmine Santiago early this week to drum up support for the No to coal plant in Subic Bay campaign.

'We have also maunched an online petition (http://www.ipetitions.com/widget/view/347016) so the whole world can join in and help preserve the beauty of Subic Bay,'Santiago said.

A similar campaign was launched against another project in Olongapo City last year that forced the Olongapo City government to abandon its plan to import garbage and dump garbage from other towns and cities in Central Luzon.

Both Meralco and Aboitiz have yet to comment on the issue. (30)

ICTSI gets 2nd container terminal in Subic Bay

2011-07-28T10:28:00.000+08:00

International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) inked a 25 year deal for ICTSI to operate the second of two container berths, virtually monopolizing container traffic here.

The agreement was disclosed by ICTSI to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday.

This gives ICTSI, which also operates the first container terminal in Subic, a monopoly position in this business in Subic Bay. SBMA granted the contract three months ago.

NCT2 has a capacity of 300,000 TEUs, or 20-foot equivalent units, a measure used for capacity in container transportation. ICTSI unit Subic Bay International Container Terminal has committed to bring in a minimum of 100,000 TEUs in NCT2 per year.

The group has operations in the Philippines, Brazil, Poland, Madagascar, Japan, Indonesia, Syria, China, Ecuador, Colombia, Georgia, Brunei, Argentina, Mexico and USA.

In the Philippines, ICTSI operates the Manila International Container Terminal, Mindanao Container Terminal in Misamis Oriental, the Makar Wharf, Port of General Santos City, Bauan International Port in Batangas and Sasa International Port in Davao City.

Zambales gas station selling smuggled fuel, Customs

2011-07-21T09:52:00.000+08:00

Tax officials charged an owner of a gasoline station in Castillejos, Zambales for selling 14,000 liters of marked biofuel that was smuggled from the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Charged before the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor of the Department of Justice in Manila for violation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines were Araceli Banaag, owner of BNW Gas Station located along the National Highway in Del Pilar, Castillejos, Zambales and her still unidentified accomplices.

Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez said the case stemmed from the seizure proceedings involving tax-free fuel intended for freeport zones but which was brought out of the Subic Freeport without the payment of taxes and duties.

The smuggled fuel was later found to have been delivered to the BNW Gas Station prompting the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group’s Task Force Fuel to conduct an operation to determine if the fuel being sold there had been marked with a special marking substance used to distinguish whether a particular batch of fuel is duty- and tax- exempt or not.

Alvarez said the fuel in question was subjected to a fuel marking test by a laboratory analyst from SGS Philippines Inc. (SGS), an accredited service provider for the Department of Finance’s program on the mandatory marking of imported tax- and duty- exempt kerosene and diesel.

SGS is responsible for adding a substance called fuel marker PH03 on duty- and tax- exempt fuel which are intended for the exclusive use of suppliers doing business in freeport zones like the SBFZ.

The positive test result on the fuel bought from BNW Gas Station confirmed that the PH03 marker was present in the diesel sold by said gas station. It also proved that the fuel’s withdrawal from the SBFZ did not go through the legal process and did not pay the corresponding duties and taxes, thus, prompting the BOC Run-After-The-Smugglers team to file the appropriate charges.

As a rule, Alvarez explained, marked fuel could only be used by an entity given such incentive. Selling the same fuel to a third party is illegal.

Pinoy dies in Hanjin shipyard, again.

2011-07-21T09:12:00.000+08:00

SUBIC BAY Freeport: Another Filipino worker died in a work related accident inside the South Korean Hanjin's facilities early Wednesday morning.

A Hanjin report identified the fatality as James Garagal, 26 year old, single and a native of Samar province.

Soon Dong Yoon, the technical deputy general manager of Hanjin said that the accident happened at around 12:15 am Wednesday. Caragal allgedly hitched a ride on a forklift being driven by a certain Richard Payauan to go to the mess hall for their midnight meal.

The report described that the driver “was driving the forklift in an over speeding manner” and hit a concrete ditch cover which opened and Caragal was thrown off head first into the ditch.

HHIC has already turned over the driver to Subic police for questioning.

Last July 3, hundreds of workers, led by the Catholic Church and Partido ng Manggagawa (Worker's Party), trooped to Subic, Zambales to highlight safety and labor violations of the shipbuilding giant. At least 31 deaths has been recorded since Hanjin started operation in Subic in 2006.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is investigating the incident. (30)

Body of missing American and Hong Kong divers recovered

2011-07-19T12:09:00.000+08:00

SUBIC BAY, Philippines — The lifeless bodies of the American and Hong Kong divers who went missing Sunday were finally recovered by a joint team of civilian and government divers today.

At around 9am this morning, the body of Steve Brittian, the American master diver who led the two Hong Kong national in a technical dive inside the wreck of the USS New York, was finally recovered.

Divers pulled the lifeless body of Hong Kong tourist Tin Shun Chuen, 39, last Monday night after he went missing for more than 28 hours

'This is a tragedy and the people of Olongapo sympathize with their family,' Rolen Paulino, vice mayor of Olongapo City told AFP.

Brittian, popular among the local diving community here, is a retired US Navy personnel who opted to reside in the city.

Subic Bay security chief Orlando Maddela have yet to establish the reason for their deaths.

But fellow divers say that Brittian knew the ins and out of the USS New York.

'He was the one who put the guidelines in that wreck and it is hard to imagine him getting lost,' Rani Cruz, a recreational diver who helped recover the bodies and an official of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Subic Bay was the former US naval base northwest of Manila that was converted into a resort and light industrial zone after the US pulled out their forces in 1991.

Tin's friend, Chow Fong Lung, told Freeport authorities Sunday night that he lost track of Brittian and Tin as they swam through the wreck. He surfaced and waited for the two but both did not surface forcing him and the boatman to report the matter to the authorities. (30)