STA. CRUZ, Zambales: The province of Zambales which was recently ravaged by Typhoon Cosme is receiving assistance not only from the national government but also from other local government units.
On Friday President Gloria Arroyo who made an ocular inspection in Pangasinan and this province ordered the release of P500 million for emergency assistance for both provinces.
During her inspection in the town of Sta. Cruz, Gov. Enrique Garcia of Bataan donated P500,000 worth of GI sheet while Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Administrator Armand Arreza pledged a million worth of construction materials.
Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp., also donated 300 sacks of rice for families affected by Cosme in Sta. Cruz and some 2,000 bags of cement for the repair of school buildings and other infrastructures.
Gov. Amor Deloso of Zambales said that DMCI, a mining firm based in Zambales donated P500, 000 cash for the victims.
The National Disaster Coordinating Council estimates that P3.4- billion worth of agricultural and infrastructure were destroyed by Cosme while leaving 37 people dead and displacing more than 205,000 families in 1,106 barangay, 59 municipalities and seven cities in Zambales, Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan and Iloilo.
The bulk of the damages according to NDCC were from agriculture estimated at P3.3 billion while the rest were from damages to school and other infrastructure.
Deloso said that the provincial government is trying to rebuild the schools in time for the June 14 classes.
2008年5月26日星期一
So hard to describe
Just last week typhoon Cosme devastated the town of Sta. Cruz, destroying houses, school and other infrastructure in the town.
TV, Radio reports and newspaper reports could not possibly describe the damage that Cosme did to this small town.
They all have their figures, billions of pesos were lost due to damages in the agricultural sector and other infrastructure. many have died and were left homeless.
TV reporters, radio reporters and print reporters scrambled during GMA's visit in Sta. Cruz.
I will try to get pictures of the place since this will and can only show how Cosme destroyed 80 percent of the town.
TV, Radio reports and newspaper reports could not possibly describe the damage that Cosme did to this small town.
They all have their figures, billions of pesos were lost due to damages in the agricultural sector and other infrastructure. many have died and were left homeless.
TV reporters, radio reporters and print reporters scrambled during GMA's visit in Sta. Cruz.
I will try to get pictures of the place since this will and can only show how Cosme destroyed 80 percent of the town.
2008年5月25日星期日
Poor old mango tree
Ill miss the days when going to our backyard was a comfort.
Our backyard was a heaven for me. During the morning I would go back and sit underneath our big mango tree smoking my favorite cigarette while drink my coffee.
Looking at my dogs, looking at Tilapias and Dalag’s in the river.
This might all change now, two days ago my mother told me that she was going to trim the mango tree, I said yes, I imagine the word trip refers to cutting some of the overgrown branches which was staring to touch the roof of our house.
So off to work I go in the morning not knowing that she was about to slaughter the tree.
Yep you read it right, I said slaughter since she left only the tree trunk standing.
I really can’t understand the logic my mom told me.
Before that the sun couldn’t even pierce through our backyard meaning the place was comfortable, the wind was cold and was pleasant to hangout.
It would be much more interesting to see and I think you would agree with me if I had a picture of the tree after the so called trimming but I don’t have a digital camera now.
That tree also produce sweet mango’s by the way.
Now its hot, very hot.
Agree and frustrated, that’s how I feel right now, I wish I didn’t go to work that day when my mom told me she was going to trim that tree, I could have salvage it. But its done and all I can do now is close my eyes and imagine, remember what it was like underneath that big old tree.
Our backyard was a heaven for me. During the morning I would go back and sit underneath our big mango tree smoking my favorite cigarette while drink my coffee.
Looking at my dogs, looking at Tilapias and Dalag’s in the river.
This might all change now, two days ago my mother told me that she was going to trim the mango tree, I said yes, I imagine the word trip refers to cutting some of the overgrown branches which was staring to touch the roof of our house.
So off to work I go in the morning not knowing that she was about to slaughter the tree.
Yep you read it right, I said slaughter since she left only the tree trunk standing.
I really can’t understand the logic my mom told me.
Before that the sun couldn’t even pierce through our backyard meaning the place was comfortable, the wind was cold and was pleasant to hangout.
It would be much more interesting to see and I think you would agree with me if I had a picture of the tree after the so called trimming but I don’t have a digital camera now.
That tree also produce sweet mango’s by the way.
Now its hot, very hot.
Agree and frustrated, that’s how I feel right now, I wish I didn’t go to work that day when my mom told me she was going to trim that tree, I could have salvage it. But its done and all I can do now is close my eyes and imagine, remember what it was like underneath that big old tree.
2008年4月9日星期三
SBMA open to any inquiry in Hanjin Condo
SUBIC BAY Freeport: Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Administrator Armand Arreza on Tuesday said that he is open to any inquiry or investigation regarding the controversial 22-storey Hanjin Condominium.
He also stressed that the construction could no longer be stopped even if some senators and environmentalists over the weekend made an issue out of its construction, even demanding an investigation.
The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) also sought to cancel SBMA’s power to issue Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) but Arreza was quick to say that in order to do that DENR has to amend the law, specifically the RA 7227 which allows SBMA to issue ECC and other permits to locators.
“If they want to do that and remove the issuance of ECC from us they must first amend the law,” Arreza said while stressing that under the circumstances, the condominium development has been regarded as the “best use of land” for the former assembly of weapons area left by the US military in 1991.
“This area was previously used for conversion of second hand vehicles, which is more of an environment risk. Under our current zoning guidelines, the Cubi-Triboa area is a residential area, and is better suited to the environment,” Arreza clarified during a press conference on Tuesday.
Arreza said the $20 million condo project was built on a pre-existing developed area and will have a state of the art solid waste and wastewater treatment facility.
“All lands in Subic are protected, but in varying degrees. Under our management plan, this area may be used for residential purposes and the core ecological zone, which are the no-touch, no development areas are more than 2 kilometers away,” Arreza explained.
He also explained that the two condo units, one with 22-storeys and another with10 storeys will be used by Hanjin officials and staffs.
“All rules and regulations were complied by Hanjin, so it is rather unfair to say that they were given special treatment in this project,” Arezza said.
He also explained that the trees that were cut during the construction of the units were non-prime species of trees and that Hanjin has replaced them with a ratio of 1:25.
“This only shows that the 3-hectare land being developed by Hanjin was already cleared and flat way before the construction began,” Arreza said.
He added that based on their study, no wild mammals and no threatened, endangered or rare species of plants have been identified within the project site and there are no indigenous people residing in its vicinity.
He also stressed that the construction could no longer be stopped even if some senators and environmentalists over the weekend made an issue out of its construction, even demanding an investigation.
The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) also sought to cancel SBMA’s power to issue Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) but Arreza was quick to say that in order to do that DENR has to amend the law, specifically the RA 7227 which allows SBMA to issue ECC and other permits to locators.
“If they want to do that and remove the issuance of ECC from us they must first amend the law,” Arreza said while stressing that under the circumstances, the condominium development has been regarded as the “best use of land” for the former assembly of weapons area left by the US military in 1991.
“This area was previously used for conversion of second hand vehicles, which is more of an environment risk. Under our current zoning guidelines, the Cubi-Triboa area is a residential area, and is better suited to the environment,” Arreza clarified during a press conference on Tuesday.
Arreza said the $20 million condo project was built on a pre-existing developed area and will have a state of the art solid waste and wastewater treatment facility.
“All lands in Subic are protected, but in varying degrees. Under our management plan, this area may be used for residential purposes and the core ecological zone, which are the no-touch, no development areas are more than 2 kilometers away,” Arreza explained.
He also explained that the two condo units, one with 22-storeys and another with10 storeys will be used by Hanjin officials and staffs.
“All rules and regulations were complied by Hanjin, so it is rather unfair to say that they were given special treatment in this project,” Arezza said.
He also explained that the trees that were cut during the construction of the units were non-prime species of trees and that Hanjin has replaced them with a ratio of 1:25.
“This only shows that the 3-hectare land being developed by Hanjin was already cleared and flat way before the construction began,” Arreza said.
He added that based on their study, no wild mammals and no threatened, endangered or rare species of plants have been identified within the project site and there are no indigenous people residing in its vicinity.
$20-million medical and wellness center inagurated in Subic
SUBIC BAY Freeport: A $20-million medical facility was inaugurated here Tuesday by Dr. Solita Monsod, who will serve as chairman of the center.
The George Dewey Medical and Wellness Center in Subic is among the best in the country and can be at par with medical facilities in Metro Manila, such as St. Luke's once it becomes fully operational, said Chairman Dante A. Ang of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), who was one of the dignitaries at the event.
"This medical and wellness center when completed will have amenities such as a nursing home, a gym, a shopping center, a swimming pool, a bowling alley, and a billiards hall, so that visitors and patients would have extra activities when they are here," he added.
Ang described the medical and wellness center as a "one-stop medical and wellness community."
Operated and maintained by the George Dewey Medical College, the George Dewey Medical and Wellness Center will employ 300.
Ang said they have recruited doctors trained from Singapore and Europe.
Located at the former Cubi Hospital Complex, which is in the heart of Subic Bay, the medical facility now has 50 beds and has plans to add another 150.
Besides the amenities, Ang said the medical and wellness center also boasts of the latest equipment.
Among those who also attended the inauguration were Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Administrator Armand Arezza, Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr., SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Business and Investments Hermenegildo Atienza 3rd, and members of the Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce. Anthony Bayarong
The George Dewey Medical and Wellness Center in Subic is among the best in the country and can be at par with medical facilities in Metro Manila, such as St. Luke's once it becomes fully operational, said Chairman Dante A. Ang of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), who was one of the dignitaries at the event.
"This medical and wellness center when completed will have amenities such as a nursing home, a gym, a shopping center, a swimming pool, a bowling alley, and a billiards hall, so that visitors and patients would have extra activities when they are here," he added.
Ang described the medical and wellness center as a "one-stop medical and wellness community."
Operated and maintained by the George Dewey Medical College, the George Dewey Medical and Wellness Center will employ 300.
Ang said they have recruited doctors trained from Singapore and Europe.
Located at the former Cubi Hospital Complex, which is in the heart of Subic Bay, the medical facility now has 50 beds and has plans to add another 150.
Besides the amenities, Ang said the medical and wellness center also boasts of the latest equipment.
Among those who also attended the inauguration were Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Administrator Armand Arezza, Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon Jr., SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Business and Investments Hermenegildo Atienza 3rd, and members of the Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce. Anthony Bayarong
2008年4月3日星期四
Residents appeal to stop mining operation
STA. CRUZ, Zambales: RESIDENTS of a seaside town in Zambales have sent out an urgent appeal for their forests and environment now under threat of destruction due to ongoing mining operations, said local officials.
Mayor Luisito Marty of the mineral-rich-town of Sta. Cruz said hundreds of residents along the shorelines and inner villages have complained against the operation of Benguet Corporation, which has turned the once green environment into a wasteland of barren soil.
“Dust from the loose soil covers wide areas in summer and it turns into mud when it rains,” Marty said. “Massive environmental disturbances continue without let-up.”
Sta. Cruz is one of the coastal towns of Zambales facing the South China Sea. It is rich in deposits of nickel and other minerals.
Benguet Corporation has started operations even without permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local officials noted, adding that the mine sites were located in areas that have been declared as tourism spots.
Marty said the mining operations have hampered water flow and in many areas the streams and rives have dried up because of mine tailings.
“The dust and fumes from diesel trucks and loss of vegetation have put the health of many residents at risk,” he said.
Danilo Merced, barangay captain of Lomboy, the main site of Benguet’s operation, said they were told that the company only had an “exploration” permit from the DENR.
He said the government should step in and stop the destruction of their environment and penalize those responsible for their illegal mining operations.
Benguet’s access to the mine runs across Barangay Tubo-Tubo North, one of the town’s tourist attractions with a beautiful waterfall, and residents said they are concerned that the mining operation will have a detrimental effect on their surroundings.
In Barangay Bolitov, a fish sanctuary intended for eco-tourism projects, residents filed a petition to the municipal government opposing the plan of Benguet, which announced to put up a pier and use it “by hook or by crook” to ship ores from the mines. THE MANILA TIMES
Mayor Luisito Marty of the mineral-rich-town of Sta. Cruz said hundreds of residents along the shorelines and inner villages have complained against the operation of Benguet Corporation, which has turned the once green environment into a wasteland of barren soil.
“Dust from the loose soil covers wide areas in summer and it turns into mud when it rains,” Marty said. “Massive environmental disturbances continue without let-up.”
Sta. Cruz is one of the coastal towns of Zambales facing the South China Sea. It is rich in deposits of nickel and other minerals.
Benguet Corporation has started operations even without permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local officials noted, adding that the mine sites were located in areas that have been declared as tourism spots.
Marty said the mining operations have hampered water flow and in many areas the streams and rives have dried up because of mine tailings.
“The dust and fumes from diesel trucks and loss of vegetation have put the health of many residents at risk,” he said.
Danilo Merced, barangay captain of Lomboy, the main site of Benguet’s operation, said they were told that the company only had an “exploration” permit from the DENR.
He said the government should step in and stop the destruction of their environment and penalize those responsible for their illegal mining operations.
Benguet’s access to the mine runs across Barangay Tubo-Tubo North, one of the town’s tourist attractions with a beautiful waterfall, and residents said they are concerned that the mining operation will have a detrimental effect on their surroundings.
In Barangay Bolitov, a fish sanctuary intended for eco-tourism projects, residents filed a petition to the municipal government opposing the plan of Benguet, which announced to put up a pier and use it “by hook or by crook” to ship ores from the mines. THE MANILA TIMES
2008年3月28日星期五
6,000 residents avail of free training program
THE local government of this city reported yesterday that more than 6,000 residents of this city have benefited from its Welding training program in anticipation of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Inc., full blast operation in coming years.
The Skill Training Program led by Mayor James Gordon Jr. and Skills Training Center Director and City Councilor Edwin Piano has initially employed 2154 trainees hired by Hanjin Shipbuilding, 103 trainees have been employed by Hanjin Construction, 240 have been hired by different investors in Subic Bay Freeport, while 200 are now working as Oversees Filipino Workers.
Piano said that the training program consist of Shipbuilding Orientation, career workshop Seminar, Flux Cord Arch Welding Seminar, Basic Computer Literacy and Shielded Metal Arc Welding level II.
Piano added that just recently around 200 trainees have passed the screening and initial interview for job opportunity in Australia.
Mayor Gordon meanwhile said that the training program is all accredited by Technical education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The Skill Training Program led by Mayor James Gordon Jr. and Skills Training Center Director and City Councilor Edwin Piano has initially employed 2154 trainees hired by Hanjin Shipbuilding, 103 trainees have been employed by Hanjin Construction, 240 have been hired by different investors in Subic Bay Freeport, while 200 are now working as Oversees Filipino Workers.
Piano said that the training program consist of Shipbuilding Orientation, career workshop Seminar, Flux Cord Arch Welding Seminar, Basic Computer Literacy and Shielded Metal Arc Welding level II.
Piano added that just recently around 200 trainees have passed the screening and initial interview for job opportunity in Australia.
Mayor Gordon meanwhile said that the training program is all accredited by Technical education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
2008年3月27日星期四
Animal theme park opens new gig for tourist
TRY out a new experience this summer, this time it’s the animal who will visit you personally, no cages, no fenced areas and best of all, its all in just one area.Zoobic Safari, which brought to Subic Freeport the only tiger safari adventure in the country, is now offering a bigger, improved animal show, plus an educational camp for adventuresome kids and adults.
Want to see poodles that waltz, monkeys that dunk a basketball, pigs hurdling obstacles, or dogs dancing tinikling? Then Zoobic Safari is just the place for you, said company CEO Robert Yupangco.
Yupangco, who opened several new attractions recently in this popular theme park, said Zoobic Safari
launched early this month the “Zummer Zoobic Safari” program, with additional facilities and entertainment features that the whole family would surely enjoy.
“You can do so many things here,” Yupangco said. “You could go camping. We have a boot camp, with a course. You can learn different things like how to breed animals.”
Under the special summer program, Zoobic Safari has headlined its daily entertainment fare with an animal show, where Jenny the monkey impresses the audience with her acting skills, Vera the dog successfully undergoes a tricky question-and-answer segment, while poodles dance and show their athletic prowess, and potbellied pigs jump and fool around.
Then, a tour of the whole theme park follows, with tour guides providing trivia about the golden
pheasants, tarsiers, albino water buffalos, moon bear, camels, and other animals featured in the park.
The tour would actually take half a day, at least, as it includes a visit to the “Rodent World,” which has specimens of cloud rat, one of the biggest rodents in the world; the “Rodent Saloon,” which is equipped with small bath tubs, hair blower and shampoo for its tiny furry customers; the “Serpentarium,” which has a collection of pythons and other reptiles; and the “Tiger Safari”, where visitors ride on metal-screened jeepneys to get close to tigers roaming in their natural grassland habitat.The tour, of course, wouldn’t be complete without going to the “Savannah,” where ostriches, potbellies, wild bears and guinea fowls roam freely; the “Animal Muzooeum”, which boasts a rare collection of stuffed wild animals and mounted animal skeletons; and the “Croco Loco,” which, of course, features live crocodiles.
The tour is capped later in the afternoon with an animal parade, where representative specimens of all the animals in the park, both wild and domesticated, are brought out in a parade that is actually a modern take of the biblical story of Noah’s ark.
Despite the overwhelming number of attractions at Zoobic Safari, Yupangco said the theme park is only about 30 percent completed.
“We have yet so much to do, and I think 50 years is not enough to accomplish all that,” Yupangco said with a laugh. “We now have 50 tigers here, but we will soon introduce white tigers. A lot of zebras and giraffes are also coming in, and yes, an elephant.”
Yupangco also mentioned plans for animal races, which include greyhounds, horses, and quite surprisingly, even chicken. This is in addition to Zoobic’s ongoing breeding program for endangered animals, and a “pit bull program”, which trains what are otherwise known as fighting dogs for the non-aggressive activity of racing.
And more is yet to come, as the management is currently working to add to the list more adventure rides, a forest camp with trailers painted in tiger stripes, as well as fishing and canoeing.
Early this month, Zoobic also broke ground for its latest project — the “Aeta’s Way,” which would enable tourists to experience how it is like to live close to nature, as the indigenous people of the Subic Bay Freeport still do.
For this project, Yupangco said that a parcel of the theme park would be developed, complete with air-conditioned cottages and first-class amenities of modern living.
This seemed ironic, as Yupangco himself admitted, but he added that the idea was for Zoobic Safari visitors to get a grasp of the Aeta lifestyle without sacrificing comforts.
2008年3月26日星期三
www.subictimes.com to be online soon
Soon, http://www.subictimes.com/ will be online.
This new website dedicated for news around the bay area of Subic Bay freeport promises to bring you fresh and up-to-date news and information.
Although this is a new venture for this writer, i will try to do my best to update the readers.
If you have any suggestions, it will be highly appreciated, email it to abayarong@gmaill.com
This new website dedicated for news around the bay area of Subic Bay freeport promises to bring you fresh and up-to-date news and information.
Although this is a new venture for this writer, i will try to do my best to update the readers.
If you have any suggestions, it will be highly appreciated, email it to abayarong@gmaill.com
2008年2月8日星期五
Police train barangay tanods
OLONGAPO City: Around 1,000 Barangay officials and civilian volunteer organization members will train with the Olongapo City Police office to enhance their capability in maintaining peace and order in their respective communities.
Police Senior Supt. Abelardo Villacorta told The Manila Times that the four-day training will include all officials of the 17 barangays in Olongapo City.
“This is part of our efforts to help them maintain peace and order in their respective barangays as we tap them to become our force multipliers.” Villacorta said.
He added that his office initiated the program in order to augment the shortage of police officers in the city and to help in the city’s peace and order campaign.
“Barangay officials and tanods are in the forefront of peacekeeping in their respective communities and I think with this training they can help the police and the city as a whole in the maintenance of peace and order,” he said.
The four-day training will include crisis management, police security containment ring system (integrated patrol system), drug abuse control, human rights, law of arrest and seizure, barangay justice system, crime scene preservation, handcuffing techniques, police operational procedure, info gathering and traffic rules and regulations.
He added that the training would also include a brief on anti-terrorism.
He explained that the program is in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the local government of Olongapo City.
The training started on February 4 and will end on April 18.
-- Anthony Bayarong
Police Senior Supt. Abelardo Villacorta told The Manila Times that the four-day training will include all officials of the 17 barangays in Olongapo City.
“This is part of our efforts to help them maintain peace and order in their respective barangays as we tap them to become our force multipliers.” Villacorta said.
He added that his office initiated the program in order to augment the shortage of police officers in the city and to help in the city’s peace and order campaign.
“Barangay officials and tanods are in the forefront of peacekeeping in their respective communities and I think with this training they can help the police and the city as a whole in the maintenance of peace and order,” he said.
The four-day training will include crisis management, police security containment ring system (integrated patrol system), drug abuse control, human rights, law of arrest and seizure, barangay justice system, crime scene preservation, handcuffing techniques, police operational procedure, info gathering and traffic rules and regulations.
He added that the training would also include a brief on anti-terrorism.
He explained that the program is in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the local government of Olongapo City.
The training started on February 4 and will end on April 18.
-- Anthony Bayarong
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