It's So Obvious - Move The Toll Booth

Comment from a reader on "The Subic Tollbooth Shuffle":

Well, what if you didn't just get off the SCTEX but were entering the SFEX from the "old road"? If that's the case some will pay the toll. But, yes why bother with the card and better yet why any toll for the SFEX at all! What really needs to be done is MOVE the SFEX toll both way down near the "old road" intersection so SCTEX drivers wont encounter it at all.

[The Subic Bulletin] You make two excellent points that we would like to expand on a little:

1) The SFEX is NOT an Expressway, it is just a road, if it was dual carrigeway and dual lane we would have no issue with the toll, BUT ITS NOT! Its not an "SFEX" its just the "Tipo Road", build us a freeway or get rid of the toll.

2) Lets asume you either build the freeway or just continue to be greedy, have the brains to move the toll booth down next to the SCTEX toll booths (big saving on security guards there) or if there is not enough room place it down the bottom of the hill so your only collecting tolls from the traffic not passing the SCTEX and the SCTEX toll both will collect the rest. This seems so obvious to everyone else why do the operators sit around with a bag over their heads???

Don't even think about saying its expensive to move the toll booth because with 90% of the traffic gone your staff costs would cover the move in no time at all.

Careless Cops Fleecing Motorists

Comment on the story "Watch Your Glasses When Subic Cops Pull You Over":

LAZY SBMA COPS

On the evening of Mother's Day, at one of the busiest intersections leading to SFEX and Tipo, 3 SBMA cops were leaning on their truck watching cars go one by one through a four way stop. There must have been 25 to 30 cars lined up waiting to make the left turn to the SFEX. Why couldn't just one of these cops get off their ass and direct traffic?

The Freeport is in a sad state with traffic lights that don't work and "homemade" wooden stop signs put in their place at major intersections. The so-called "premier freeport" is in a nosedive that may never recovered unless SBMA officials start doing their jobs!

Will it ever happen? Probably not... What a disgrace!

[The Subic Bulletin] We also notice that the LED have disapered from the Cubi check points, this is actually a relief because they were fleecing motorists like a toll under the guise of "sir its so hot, I need water" when you say you don't have any water they tell you "its ok just give me the money and I will buy it". cheaper to pay the toll in Tipo than to go to Cubi!

Maybe SM Could Buy Us Some Traffic Lights!

Comment from a reader on "Where Is Our SM Mall?":

I totally agree. The moment that an alternative and viable shopping venue opens in Olongapo or on Base, I will never darken the doorstep of the Royal Duty Free again - ever (that "duty free" part is the biggest joke going).

I suspect that Royal has used it's considerable clout all along to keep competition out of the Base to protect their exhorbitant pricing structure - they know they're dead in water should SM or similar open up here.

Their recent facelift has made some very minor improvement (it is still a sub-standard operation), but alas it's too little too late. I've been abused enough by Royal for 11 years already and personally can't wait for an alternative to open. I think the timing is right for SM to come to Subic/Olongapo now.

One thing though... we do have to be careful what we ask for... we might actually get it! Imagine how much traffic an SM on Base would generate! Couple that increased traffic with SBMA's awful/non-existent traffic management system and it could be complete gridlock.

Are we ready for that?

[The Subic Bulletin] If an SM was to be placed inside the Freeport the SBMA would be wise to get a whole new traffic management system paid for by SM, or would that be expecting too much?

Can SBMA Market The Subic Airport?

Comment from a reader on "Still A Chance For Subic Airport?":

An air route between Guam and Subic Bay International Airport might initially serve OFWs engaged in the military construction on Guam, but once established, it could serve as the bottom leg of triangle flights from Korea and Japan serving divers and golfers, allowing them to sample these pursuits in the two locations on one trip, without subjecting them to the grittiness of Manila.

Mayor Gordon has already initiated a possible sister-city relationship with Guam. SBMA and the City of Olongapo should get with Spirit of Manila Airlines immediately to get these flights up and running.

[The Subic Bulletin] We like your thinking, but given the landing fees are so high that even FedEx would rather land at Clark http://thesubicbulletin.blogspot.com/2009/05/future-of-subic-airport.html , getting a small commercial airline to pay exorbitant landing fees and help keep the ILS running seems impossible unless SBMA can re-engineer their approach.

The Subic Fuel Pricing Cartel

Comment from a reader on "A Freeport is a Special Customs Area":

I am the originator of the "Subic is Not a Freeport", and wish to add more fuel to the fire I lit originally. Just before the Easter Holiday, I drove to Clark and then San Fernando (to the SM Mall), and then returned by the old road which Victory Liners still use.

Outside of SF, the price of diesel fuel was 24.5 peso/liter. I decided to fill up upon my return to the SBFZ. What a mistake that was! When I got here, the price at the pump was 30 pesos per liter!

How can that be? Diesel fuel here in SBMA is 5.5 PESOS HIGHER THAN WHAT CAN BE PURCHASED OUTSIDE OF THE FREEPORT ZONE!!!

What a terrible, terrible joke this place is. My original comments still stand, and I feel it is going to get far worse before we ever see any improvement, if ever.

[The Subic Bulletin] Its also astonishing how much cheaper fuel is in Pampanga, most people I know fill up before hitting the SCTEX. Is this some sort of price fixing cartel going on in the Subic area?

The Embarrassment Of Subic Traffic Lights

Comment from a reader on "Subic’s Silly Intersections":

Quote form the Bulletin... SBMA is struggling desperately with how to manage simple intersections inside the Freeport. (Can you image if these guys were responsible for organizing intersection traffic in a real city?!)

The situation is a real mess and each solution offered by SBMA makes the situation worse. In addition to the stop lights, that change regularly in bizarre combinations of blinking yellow, blinking red, etc. when they aren’t burned out, there are the contradictory stop signs/traffic lights you mention. Also, SBMA police don’t follow the simple rule – known by traffic cops worldwide – that you never direct traffic against the light when working an intersection.

For longtime residents of Subic, after the frustration subsides over this chronic issue, the humor seeps in. (We now just giggle when we sit at a Subic intersection and the vehicles are at a dead stop at a blinking yellow light, while the vehicles at the blinking red light inch forward, while other vehicles zoom around the stopped vehicles at the blinking yellow, and the police watch from their Jollibee booth.)

[The Subic Bulletin] We agree with you, but we can't understand why the traffic lights work so well in Clark, in fact they are upgrading them to the new lights that count down the seconds until the light changes, the traffic seems better managed so the cops are not having to step out and wave cars through on the red light. Why can Clark manage this well but Subic fails dismally?
We know it already that the first reader of this comment will say "but Clark doesn't have the big volume of tourists that Subic does", so how come they can afford nice new traffic lights and we can't? If we have the tourists clogging up the roads then they must be spending money here.

It Seems We Have Many Experts On Prostitution

Comment from a reader on "Comment from a Prostitution Expert":

I can only wonder how your so called Prostitution expert has found seedy videoke joints, bars and short time motels in every town and every few kilometres of paved and dirt road. He truly must be an expert.

I have been travelling extensively over the last 20 years throughout the world and can honestly say that the Philippines are no more famous for Prostitution than Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Dubai etc. Generally you will miss prostitution during the Day and only find it when you are out at night actively looking for it.

I think it is recommendable that something is done about the establishments inside the SBMA. It is a start and can only help to attract Family orientated Tourists.

And Another:

You slander the State of Nevada by implying its wide open to prostitution. Gross distortion of the facts, which I suspect you are unfamiliar with.

Fact: Nevada is known for its easy marriage and divorce laws. Fact: Nevada is known for its legal gambling laws. Not a big deal now that legal gambling exists in every state but two (Arkansas & Utah.) Fact: Prostitution is legal and some counties, and rigidly regulated by State and local authorities. The STD rate is negligbible. Police actively seek out and arrest prostitutes in areas where its illegal to practice the oldest profession.

I've lived in the Philippines AND Nevada. There is a huge difference between the two places as relates to "the trade."

Lets cool off with this approach:

I don't see what the problem is here.

After all it is the oldest profession. There are the usual unusual things that occur in this fine land. Like the local government issuing "licenses" to sex workers for what is actually an illegal activity. But there you go, just dont ever try to use logic to figure out the illogical. Relax take it easy and enjoy the ride !

[The Subic Bulletin] This is only some of the responses we got on this subject, seems the prostitution debate is a firey one. We will post more coments in the near future, but the one common ground we have got from all readers coments is that we don't want it "in our face" inside the Subic Freeport.

The SBMA Investment Processing Consultancy

Comment from a reader on "Where Is Our SM Mall?":

Good knows how much grease money is needed to get a business started up in the Freeport.

You start with those who handle your application at the business group. That entire building is one big consultancy shop. They package everything, from the filling up of the forms to getting it approved at the EAC (whatever that means).

If you don't do it their way, (meaning don't engage their packages), they sit on your account for months.

Maybe other locators can share their experience. Arreza and Salonga might finally do something about it. Otherwise, that will be what they will be remembered for.

Its like a dispensing machine where you slip a coin to get things going. From the account officer, to the manager, to the Senior DAs to the Board.

And the permits after the Board approval...God!

The only difference is that the higher you are in their chain of approvals, the more coins you put in.

I know. You know how? My application took two years because I refused every advance at all levels.

To the new locators, please don't do it. Take a stand and tell the right people. You will get to know them along the way.

Old locators tell me that it wasn't like this during the Gordon or the Payumo time. Who cares, its today and tomorrow that matters.

[THE SUBIC BULLETIN] Does anyone else have experiences to share on investment processing?

Let Former US Navy Men Run Subic?

Comment from a reader on "Let former US Navy Men Run Subic":

oh boy, no prizes for guessing what nationality this clown is.

Let Americans run Subic? and he has the gall to blame the Spanish. Guaranteed success! Maybe we would have traffic lights that work and you might even get away with the rape or two!

[The Subic Bulletin] Time to get back to reality boys, its not what you know its who you know.

What A Load of Garbage!

Comments from a reader on Subic’s Garbage Problems:

Much of the garbage that washes ashore on Subic Bay’s beaches is either enclosed in tied off garbage bags, or is the ripped open remnants of tied off garbage bags. This struck me as odd, until I realized that what I was seeing was the end result of an apparently prevalent local method of garbage disposal—put it in a plastic bag, tie off the bag so the bag floats, and toss the bag into the nearest river. Apparently some people find it satisfying to watch their garbage disappear from sight as it floats around a bend in the river. Out of sight, out of mind.

On another front, I have been reading that SBMA, feeling constrained by its current geographical limits, is seeking to extend its writ into Olongapo. It strikes me an opportunity for synergy is presented by this impulse on some people’s part to bag garbage, and SBMA’s expansionist tendencies.

I have yet to read in the Bulletin any complaints about SBMA’s garbage pickup. My own experience with these gentlemen has been uniformly positive. Other the other hand my experience with SBMA, when it comes to fulfilling its obligation to clean the beaches, has been uniformly negative.

It seems to me that money supposedly spent to clean the beaches would be better spent on a bounty on filled garbage bags, which could be paid by SBMA sanitary workers patrolling Olongapo’s riverside districts.

I expect that the residents of these areas would forego the thrill of watching their garbage disappear around the bend if given only a little financial incentive

THE SUBIC BULLETIN: From another reader here is the complaint about SBMA's garbage pickup that you were looking for:

NO GARBAGE PICKUP IN BINICTICAN

For some reason, SBMA is not picking up garbage in Binictican Housing as scheduled and paid for by residents. For several times in just the past couple of months, garbage trucks are not picking up garbage in Binictican housing. When the office is called they deny that garbage is not being picked up, but many blocks have missed pickup even though the trash sits on the street all day.

It's was noticeable when SBMA stopped picking up trash with garbage trucks, then dump trucks and now nothing. Are their trucks dead now along with many of the other trucks belonging to SBMA, like police and maintenance vehicles?

Infrastructure is crumbling before our eyes in the Freeport and it seems like nothing is being done by SBMA to fix it! We are paying for service that we are not getting now. SBMA please do your job! Is this the premier freeport that you advertise?

THE SUBIC BULLETIN: Fact is the amount charged by SBMA is a revenue stream not the cost of collecting garbage, nevertheless they have generally been responsive to this issue when you call them, any lack of pickup is usually not intentional.

SCTEX Routes Traffic Head On!

From a reader:

Several weeks ago the operators of the SCTEX closed half the expressway for cyclists, maybe to have a race, so traffic coming from Subic bound for Clark was funnelled into a single file crawl along the right half of the oncoming carriageway from Dinnalupihan through to just before the NLEX turnoff. You could certainly say that the freeway operators were effectively cheating the drivers of the road they were paying a toll to use. No surprises here after all the greed and stupidity we have seen from the freeway operators, but the story doesn't end there....


I was one of the first cars to pass back on the correct side of the road again, the race had finished and I had a clear path ahead, in fact I was passing cars that were still stuck in single file on the wrong side of the centre divider. After a second of feeling sorry for them I went on to enjoy my open road, or so I thought...


When I arrived at Clark I came around the bend approaching the South Clark exit and I was confronted with vehicles coming head on, going the wrong way on the wrong side of the road! A perfect recipe for a multiple fatality accident.

After some quick action to ensure the lives of my whole family were rescued I looked for the reason behind this debacle and found that the freeway operators were only allowing the cars to come back to the correct side of the road AFTER the south Clark Exit, so cars wanting to exit South Clark were effectively U-Turning to back-track to the South Clark exit, straight into the now oncoming traffic as the road was reopened.

How can the freeway operators be so incompetent as to route freeway traffic head on into each other?

Why should they be routing traffic to allow bicycles to use the expressway when the law strictly forbids bicycles on expressways, a law that is there for a reason. If there was some exemption to the law signed for them to run that event was the brainless bureaucrat made aware that he could be killing families because the operator is not capable to carry out such instructions safely?
These morons should be charged with attempted Homicide, there is no excuse for exposing motorists to such danger, especially when they are paying to use a road built to international safety standards.I sent a text message to the SCTEX number at the tollgate, there response was: "We will forward your concern to our concerns department"

Concerns Department??? They have a whole department for concerns?

The Filth Is In Our Own Back Yard!

Reader Comments on "Laid-up Ships in Subic Should Not be Allowed to Discharge Their Waste"

I think the council had other reasons for coming up with the resolution. They are known to flip in an instant, once they get what they want.

Remember their opposition to the night market, their resolution and the organized rallies? After they got the management of the night market, it became a "famous domestic attraction".

But yes, these ships, should secure appropriate services, if they aren't doing that already.

And Another:

Talk about misdirected energy.
I don't disagree with the reader, but we would do much better to focus our efforts on curbing the daily dumping of raw sewage into Subic Bay from virtually every Olongapo home!

And Yet Another:

The vast majority of ships sailing today have modern sewage plants installed on board, these are mandatory and have to be designed to a certain standard. Sewage is treated before discharge overboard. Many modern vessels also have sewage holding tanks, when these are full and local regulations do not allow for treated sewage to be discharged into the sea, then there are provisions for them to be discharged into barges.

It is more likely that the sewage pollution in the bay is from Olongapo City and Subic rather than the ships. Port State officials have the power to visit ships and inspect the sewage plant facilities and they should be encouraged to do so if it is suspected that ships are dumping raw sewage into the bay.

And More:

Ships are anchored right in front of Gordon Park, where packs of kids play in the ocean on these hot days. There are health hazards involved in swimming in sewage-meningitis, for one. I hope Mr. Arreza is not so blinded by the income SBMA is realizing from allowing these ships to anchor here, he is forgetting about the kids

The Subic Bulletin: We have had a huge response on this subject thanks to everyone for the contributions, but the view of the majority of readers is that the pollution is not from the ships but from our own population. It seems this is not such a priority for local Government.

The Future of Subic Airport

The Subic Bulletin has done some investigation on the future of Subic Airport and this is what we have been able to uncover so far:

FedEx is not using Clark as a loading or unloading point, this was a mistaken observation of a reader. There is only two FedEx flights landing at Clark each day and they don’t even take on fuel, this is because flights are not permitted to travel directly between Taiwan and China for political reasons. Flights between these countries have to go somewhere, anywhere, when flying between the two countries. I believe the pilots just get out and kick the tires before continuing on their journey.

The Subic International Airport is still being kept alive by FedEx, they still have a team there just in case something goes wrong in China, they could then bring flights back to the old Subic hub, The Subic Bulletin was told that this "insurance policy" costs FedEx about USD$115,000 per month and will be discontinued at the end of the year.

So I hear you ask why does that China-Taiwan flight land in Clark when FedEx is still keeping Subic alive, the bottom line is that Clark has cheaper landing fees making a “technical stop” (without using services) in Clark much more appealing to FedEx. Once again greed and poor negotiation leaves Subic on the side lines.

So what about the future of our much loved Subic Airport?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but when FedEx makes its final withdrawal in December this year there will no longer be any justification for running the ILS (Instrument Landing System http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrument_landing_system) and without it there will be no more chance of commercial flights landing in Subic.

The ILS in Subic is very old and when it is powered down its unlikely that you would ever get it back into service. Given that SBMA can't even fix a set of traffic lights, the ILS has no hope.

It would seem that SBMA is remaining quiet on the airport issue because it is a ticking time bomb, if they can’t court a rich investor/operator to use the airport for commercial purposes before the end of this year the airport will probably be auctioned off to Koreans for another gaudy development to scar the bay.

But how could SBMA court a new investor when their commercial capabilities are so inept that they can’t even get our old friend FedEx to land one or two planes a day? Seems we can only pray for a miracle.

The Subic Tollbooth Shuffle

One Step Forward and Two Steps Backward !

I was pleased last week when I seen a sign at the SFEX toll booth saying that from May 11 both the tolls from the SCTEX and the SFEX would be collected at the same time at the SCTEX exit.

Progress I thought ! I should have known better !

I seen it in action last night and I cannot believe how a system like this can be so stupid. Here is how it goes: I exit the SCTEX and pay the combined toll, but suspicion sets in as I only get a receipt for the SCTEX toll and in addition I get a laminated card. When I get to the SFEX toll booth I exchange this card for a receipt! So can somebody tell me what this solves? Have I missed something? This place really defies logic. There is one thing I can say though is that if this country ever got close to being efficient in anything there would be an awful lot of unemployed people around.

For a short journey from Clark to Subic i dealt with three people.

The Subic Bulletin: We have also experienced this bizarre scheme, the ques were exactly the same because it took the same time to hand them a card as the money, it seems the only reason they did this was to stop asking the drivers for change! It figures they would put a system in that makes it easier for them but makes no difference to the drivers.

How can they possibly still justify collecting a toll on the Tipo road anyway, its not a freeway, not even a dual lane and continues to have a very high single car accident rate. Its dangerous, clogged and must have paid for itself several times over. Include the toll charge for trucks in the processing at the SBMA gate and start welcoming the tourists instead of showing them petty stupidity and greed right at the front gate!

A Victory for Victory Liner

Comment From A Reader On "More About Victory's Liner's Bad Service":

I have taken the Victory Liner bus to AC and Manila maybe a dozen or so times. My experience with the bus drivers and the conductors has always been pleasant.

Case in point. Sometimes the aircon on the bus is to cool. I will ask them to turn it up and they always have.

I have also asked them to turn down the music a few times cause it was to loud. No problem.

I have yet to experience a reckless driver.

As far as the vendors go, yes they come on the bus and sometimes get in our face but hey, these guys are trying to make a living.

I am sure there are people that have had some bad experiences with Victory but I would be willing to bet that there are a lot more happy customers then there are disgruntled ones.

Lighten up people. We do not live in a perfect world.

If you have a problem, report it to the management at your destination.

Brent's New Class - Get Into Debt!

Comment from a reader on the Brent School cafeteria

Brent Subic's cafeteria has never been run very well. It appears to be bidded out to the cheapest vendor. But the school's policy of letting kids run up debt at the cafeteria and then withholding report cards until that debt is paid is remarkably irresponsible.

The Brent Subic cafeteria allows kids to use their school ID cards to charge food items on credit. This isn't just for lunch. This is for drinks, ice cream, snacks for the entire class, etc. There is no control or check on what the kids buy. To make matters worse, the kids are required to have their ID on them everyday. And since the ID is an un-checked credit card, they require the kids to have an unlimited credit card for use at the cafeteria.

The unscrupulous vendor who runs the cafeteria now is not even making kids use their ID. They just charge the items to the child's name. This is being done without parental knowledge with 1st and 2nd graders! For parents who want to teach their kids about using money responsibly (and eating healthier homemade food than the cafeteria food) this is a very poor lesson indeed.

This cafeteria vendor should be removed for next year's school year and the Brent school administrators should stop this practice of allowing small children to buy on credit.

The Subic Bulletin: Unsecured credit to minors, that's got to be violating some law?

Where Is Our SM Mall?

Comment from a reader on the post "Royal Has More Problems than its Parking Lot"

I agree that the Tantoco family should spend a little of their wealth on a facelift for the parking lot. God knows they have the money.

The facelift is a JOKE! The aisles are too small to let two wagons pass each other. The reason for the facelift is to stock more local junk which can be brought more cheaply in the local markets. They are just looking for a higher profit margin at the expense of local vendors. I have noticed over the last few months that they are stocking more and more import items (especially from USA) that have near expired or already expired dates on them. You have to be very careful with each item you buy.

I have changed my shopping pattern by traveling to SM Food Mart in San Fernando every two weeks to do my major shopping. I get my fish, meat, veggie and bakery goods locally. Even with the travel money involved, I am saving money and I am finding everything I got at Royal now at SM Food Mart.

I can not understand why Clark has an SM Mall and we don't. We have a higher population in our Freeport. We need to get these smugger families out of the Freeport and bring in SM. Lets make that our next issue. We deserve better then what the Tantocos are offering. Lets give them some real competition in the Freeport.

From The Subic Bulletin: The number of people doing their shopping in Pampanga now that the freeway is open seems to be growing and there is not one but two SM's to choose from in reach of the freeway. Investors have told us that Subic is too greedy (unless your "connected"), that their is too much to pay to get businesses set up here, is this also the case with SM and the other mall operators?

Where is our SM Mall???

Still A Chance For Subic Airport?

Comment from a reader on the post "Why Is FedEx Routing Through Clark?"

In 2010 the U.S. military is beginning a massive, 15 billion dollar, military buildup on Guam. Thirty thousand Filipino construction workers, mostly from the Olongapo-Zambales area, will be drawn to Guam to work on this project. Mayor Gordon, SBMA, and the SBCC should urge Spirit of Manila Airlines, a new airline serving OFWs, to establish direct flights from Subic Bay International Airport to Guam to serve this population of OFWs.

The Subic Bulletin: We admire your forward thinking but keeping the airport open even one year without any customers would likely to be impossible. Keep reading over the next week we will collect some data on the status of the airport and reveal it here on The Subic Bulletin.

Stacks Of Mail Going Nowhere

Comment from a reader on "Can Someone Buy the Subic Postman Some Fuel?":

I think most people would agree that the Post Office is, to put it mildly, sub-par. It is not managed at all, example, I rented a post office box a couple of years ago and since have never paid the annual fee. Why? Because the post office does not have any follow up system of when boxes were paid and when they are due.

But this lack of organization and management can be seen as soon as you walk in and see the stacks of mail, EVERYWHERE!!!

How Many SBMA Executives Does It Take To Manage An Intersection?

The blinking light again at corner that turns to Royal: So we had it blinking red one direction meaning STOP and blinking yellow the other direction meaning, PROCEED WITH CAUTION. Too many drivers had no clue what traffic colors meant.

The Philippines has a drug test but no driving test.

Whoever actually manages that corner and is responsible to SBMA for it's signal safety obviously has no clue either. He or she has now added home made signs reading, "First to stop, first to proceed." Which is not bad, except that plain old fashioned STOP signs on all corners means the same thing. Or for that matter blinking red lights both directions. But they left the lights blinking yellow and red. The few drivers who actually know their meaning are now given mixed messages. The fact is, that intersection is congested and confusing enough to need the lights to work as they were intended, Red, yellow, green. That corner is a microcasm of SBMA management. In fact, it mirrors the management style of the entire country. It must be why we love it here.
As the Americans used to refer to the PI, "The land of not quite right."

I only had two beers. Is it OK to blog, boss?

The Subic Bulletin: Thanks for your sobering questions, but we must admit we are baffled by this intersection it seems many others are to by the fact that the PTT seems to have become the main path for people wanting to avoid the confusion. Would those home made signs be legally binding in an accident anyway? Is this a showcase of the management quality of SBMA?

Right Royal Customer Service

Coment from a reader on the post "Royal Has More Problems than its Parking Lot"

Well most of the service has improved, however, with 3 people behind a counter (bakery section) they still manage to run out of change and allow people to cut in line as it happened to me just last week.

To think that the time spent chatting away, one would have the foresight of restocking the tills and making sure all stocks are replenished before they run out of the basics.

No Blank Checks in the US Navy

Comment from a reader about "Let former US Navy Men Run Subic"

I fail to see anything in the authors comments that would indicate a "hatred" for Filipino's. The proposals are radical and unrealistic, but the basics of the rationale are historically fact based. The SB response is, in my opinion, commendably restrained, although suggesting that the U.S. Naval Base was "awash in US defense money" tends to display a total lack of understanding of the budgetary constraints under which military commands operate. With rare exception there are no blank checks.

Laid up Ships or Laid up Sick?

Comment from a reader about "Laid-up Ships in Subic Bay"

A couple of weeks ago, I took my family to the beach for the day. 4 out of 5 of my children came down sick within 48 hours. Doctor said it was due to bacterial infections in the stomachs. I strongly believe that this happened due to the increased pollution in the bay since the boats starting parking. I have taken my kids to the same beach for 5 years and never had any sickness. I believe that we have an environmental nightmare on our hands that will only get worse with time

And another:

I think there is a bigger issue here. Non of the Towns and Villages in Subic Bay nor Hanjin seem to have a Sewage treatment plant. Even the SBMA with all the big plans about further big Hotels and Condominiums have not published anything about this issue.Some transparency in the future planning would obviously help, but that does not seem to be possible as far as the Towns, Hanjin and SBMA concern. They prefer to start building first and then hope that no one complains.The Water quality and as a matter of Fact the Quality of Life within the bay has decreased greatly over the last 5 years.While I do not think that the discharge of sewage from the Ships will be the biggest Problem they are an eye sore and do not look good for all the Tourists the SBMA needs to fill the Hotels etc.

Subic's "Sorry" Post Office

Comment from a reader about "Subic Postal Service 101"

Agreed that addressing envelopes is important, although it doesn't take a mental giant who has been working longer than a week at a repetitious job to "figure out" addresses. I think the so called delay should be a matter of seconds, instead of weeks for someone to discern that SBMA is Subic Bay Freeport. Especially if they are sorting in the Olongapo post office. Registered mail is an entirely different matter here.
They not only lose it once it arrives at postal code 2222 (as evidenced by the stamp on the envelope), they often lose it for months and months before suddenly a notice appears in your box and you get the "sorry sir" repeated over and over when you ask how such a thing could happen.

New Look for the Subic Bulletin

It has been agreed that the Subic Bulletin should be a balanced Blog moderated by multiple moderators.

For logistical reasons in restructuring the blog for multiple moderators it has been necessary to move it to a new home at http://thesubicbulletin.blogspot.com/ Please join us there for an expanded version of the Subic Bulletin.