The Next Wave Of Subic Investors

Comment from a reader on "More On Investor Responsibility":

There is a difference between OFWs and the new immigrants to Subic. Money talks!

If the OFWs in the Middle East were there to build their own community and had the $$$$$, they would not be treated as second class citizens.

One disadvantage of the OFW diaspora is that whatever country they go too, because of the status of the Philippines, they will always be treated as second class citizens. Learn to embrace newcomers however much you want to moan and grumble about them.

Maybe with the next wave of investors/ immigrants, the Koreans will finally be on the same level as the Japanese and Taiwanese. Can't wait for the Mainland Chinese to show up or better yet the Singaporeans. I want to see how much ruckus is created when the next wave comes in.

By the way, have you ever been to Los Angeles or San Diego? That is what you call a Filipino invasion..... Jollibee next to a McDonalds......

[The Subic Bulletin] As we said in a previous post, the "ruckus" started when the US came in, but that's history now. I think you may have overlooked the Indians, that's a nation almost ready to spread its wings, highly educated and overpopulated, they could be next.

Hanjin's Dismal Ethics Record

Comment from a reader on Enough is Enough Hanjin

Even though you state that you are politically neutral and unbiased, I get the sense that you are enjoy bashing Koreans and everything associated with Korea. Is it the fault of Korean individuals and companies to invest and visit the Philippines when your government and country clearly needs foreign currency injections.

I see it as a necessary evil to the Philippines because you cannot survive alone on your economy. Likewise, don't blame the Koreans/ Korean corporations for what is occurring. Take a deeper look inside and you must accept that it is your government that allows for these actions to occur. Likewise, your culture allows for the acceptance of bribes, payments, or whatever you want to call it. You must root out this underhanded culture if you want to improve your country.

You are just putting the blame on a nationality/ entity that you cannot solve internally. If the Filippino people were righteous and moral and condone all these actions, then theoretically, your government would apply these principles. But because of your ingrained culture and acceptance of bribery and of personal gain, your governemnt reflects these morals. If this is too hard to understand, "Don't hate the game, hate the player"

[The Subic Bulletin] As we have stated many times we welcome foreign investment but what your saying is that its OK for a foreign investor to take advantage of the people of another country? To exploit the weakness of that other country just because you can?

Your concept expands out to do whatever you can get away with is OK? We don't agree!

Its true that the Philippines has a corrupt system where politicians and government employees steal from the government coffers which handicaps the developing of the country, but does that make it OK for other countries to move in and flout Philippine laws with impunity just because they can get away with it? That really does sound like an INVASION!

Apart from the enormously high rate of industrial accidents and bosses physically attacking local employees, Hanjin has abused its power elsewhere in the Philippines.

Here is some further information we collected on Hanjins dubious activities:

Hanjin also entered into major infrastructure contracts with the Philippine government, among them two dam and irrigation projects in Northern Samar, major repairs in the Davao International Airport and irrigation projects in Bohol.

If its record in minimizing the high rate of industrial accidents in Subic is dismal, its record in delivering on its contractual commitments in these infrastructure projects has so far been consistently miserable. Hanjin has defaulted on its contractual payments to a subcontractor in the Davao airport project. It has also fought demands for the full settlement of the wages of hundreds of workers it hired in the Bohol irrigation projects.

In the Northern Samar irrigation projects—which were designed to water poverty-stricken rice farms in Catubig, Hagbay and Bulao—construction is hopelessly delayed. Hanjin has so far accomplished only 13.58 percent of the project since it landed the contract almost two years ago. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) had invoked provisions of the contract with Hanjin that it would take over the construction since it has become clear that Hanjin does not have the capability to complete it on time. Hanjin, however, went over the head of NIA Administrator Carlos Salazar and managed to get an extension of 158 calendar days—thus moving the scheduled completion date from March 31, 2010, to August 25, 2010—or long after the presidential election. How was this extension made possible? Hanjin apparently can afford to be smug about it.

Hanjin, according to NIA officials, did not even build an access road to the project site as stipulated in its contract. What it did was wait for Northern Samar Gov. Raul Daza to complete a farm-to-market road in a nearby area so it could bring its heavy equipment to the work site. Daza allowed the company to use the road provided it would repair any damage caused by the transport of the heavy trucks and backhoes. When the road was finished, Hanjin did not even use the road. Instead, it came up with new excuses as to why it has barely started work on the projects.

To this day the NIA is still demanding to take over the project because Hanjin—whose core business is shipbuilding—seems to lack the capability to undertake a dam project of this complexity and magnitude.

In the much smaller Malinao dam and irrigation project in Pilar, Bohol, which was undertaken in 1991 and 1992, it was a case of unfair labor practice. Hanjin gave hundreds of local workmen it hired for the project a raw deal. It claimed before labor authorities that the laborers stole gasoline and other materials from the job sites. The workers disputed this allegation. They insisted that they were actually hired to work on several other projects but were also used in the dam project, which was not what they were made to believe. They sued Hanjin before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC). After hearing the Bohol workers’ case, the NLRC ordered Hanjin to pay them fully since the workers were hired and deployed several times and must be treated as regular employees. To skirt our labor laws, Hanjin had hired and fired these workers after every six months on a contractual basis and treated them all as casual workers.

The NLRC decision was consequently upheld first by the Court of Appeals and finally by the Supreme Court (SC) on April 10, 2006. The High Court ordered Hanjin to pay the workers millions in back wages and benefits.

Hanjin right now is also under fire for not complying with the decision of the Construction Industry Arbitration Administration, which found Hanjin liable for enriching itself at the expense of a subcontractor who did 94 percent of the work to modernize the Davao International Airport.

What happened was Hanjin signed a subcontract with Dynamic Planners and Construction Corp. (DPCC) in 2000 to build the airport after Hanjin had won the award of the project from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in 1999. DPCC, true to its contractual commitment, had finished 94 percent of the project when it realized it was being played for a sucker by Hanjin. Hanjin had received full payment for the project from the DOTC but its own payments to the subcontractor were far behind the project billings. Its excuse: DPCC had not faithfully followed design specifications. DPCC spent a fortune for salaries and procurement of construction materials, and here was Hanjin reneging on its payments.

The dispute is now the subject of a tedious and costly legal battle. After five long years, DPCC has succeeded only in having a temporary restraining order that had stymied its efforts to collect some P258 million worth of work that it had put in the Davao airport project. The SC struck down the TRO only early this year.

To this day, Hanjin has not paid what it owes DPCC. DPCC, meanwhile, has lost its Triple A accreditation with the banks because of its legal battle with Hanjin. It has also run into some serious liquidity problems—all because Hanjin does whatever it can get away with.

[The Subic Bulletin] We know that some of our readers are Hanjin contractors/suppliers and love to write in waving the "racist" flag every time we print something about Hanjin but just remember, you may be the next in line for Hanjin's abusive treatment, because the law/government won't protect you and its seems anything Hanjin can get away with is OK for them...

President Is Not Just Leader Of A Country

Comment from a reader on "Who Is The President Of The Philippines?":

How about a book on culture and etiquette? The term "president" is not reserved exclusively for the head of a nation.

There are many instances in which it is appropriate and courteous to refer to a person by the earned title. I think the reader tends to "strain at gnats."

Misplaced Nationalism Or Pure Corruption?

Comment from a reader the story The Responsibilities Of Investors, Korean Or Not

Bulletin, your commentary explaining your meaning to your readers seems to clarify comments of 'Korean invasion'. I did not want to be negative, I thought your comment, "keep any comments" was sorta funny, like opening a door to your dog, saying, 'do not go out'.

Over a period of many years, in and out of Korea, what impressed me, they are very aggressive business wise, this is obvious, per se, Korea versus Philippines, following Korean war & WWII, the help & opportunities offered to Korea from United States were much less than opportunities & help to The Philippines look what Korea accomplished in a much shorter time, 5th or 6th ranking industrial nation in the world, (Philippines, maybe not quite a banana republic?) the relationship will eventually work out to some degree, much like relationship with U.S.

Smart Philippians will recognize the benefits of financial input, opportunities for employment, etc. one problem with The Philippines, they have misplaced nationalism to their detriment. A step child syndrome. Nationalism in Korea is very intense & legitimate, comparatively speaking, it is main difference.

The greatest republican president, Theodore Roosevelt, made this statement shortly after taking the oath of office in a speech before the congress over 100 years ago. "United States should grant Philippines their independence immediately or they will be our stepchild forever" about as profound as you can get.

Again, i want to express my appreciation of your bulletin, I look forward every day.

respectfully,
Name Withheld

Hanjin Gets Away With Murder While Arroyo Regime Turns Its Back on Workers

Artical written by GILL H. BOEHRINGER

Despite a horrific health and safety record at its Subic Bay Freeport shipyard, South Korean shipbuilding giant Hanjin continues to reap enormous profits from the facility that produces ships at a rate seldom bettered anywhere in the world. It has even pledged to invest another US$86 million according to recent media reports in which Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority proudly announced an annual growth in investments of 13.6 percent. [1]

But what has the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) done about the health and safety violations that have resulted in more than 40 deaths and over 5,000 injuries in the three and a bit years Hanjin has been operating? The record of the labor department is worth scrutinizing as it is, in theory, the regulatory agency tasked with supervising employers’ activities to ensure workers are not under threat of injury or death. But it seems to have done very little to stem the flow of reported “accidents” at Hanjin.

First, after complaints about Labor Code violations in September 2008, DOLE stated that “Recent inspections showed that Hanjin has implemented appropriate safety and health measures upon the recommendations of the labor department.” Yet the deaths and injuries continued and Hanjin adroitly shifted responsibility to “subcontactors.”

Second, DOLE has continually frustrated the attempt by the Hanjin Workers Union to register as the representative of the more than 15,000 workers at the site, relying on the dodge that the workers are employed by “subcontractors.” According to Melchor Remedios, the union president, Hanjin and Greenbeach Power Tech Corp, the major labor employer, are in fact one organization. [2]

Third, given Hanjin’s tactic of blaming deaths and injuries on the “subcontractors,” perhaps it is a little surprising that DOLE has stood by idly while 80 percent of them have failed to register with the department. [3]

This failure to regulate subcontracting takes on added significance in light of the deaths recently of two workers while being driven to the shipyard in a bus operated by a “subcontractor.” Nineteen other workers were injured in the crash. In early February of this year, a similar crash caused more than 20 injuries in similar circumstances. [4]

That DOLE continues to protect Hanjin is shameful. The resultant laxity of management at the shipyard was dramatically illustrated recently when a Korean foreman assaulted a Filipino worker, Aceo Malit, with a steel flashlight, causing significant injuries. The attacker, Lee Cheon Sik, was employed by none other than Greenbeach. The assault is now the basis for a criminal charge of frustrated murder. In the meantime, SBMA administrator Armand Arezza asked Greenbeach authorities to suspend Lee for 30 days during the investigation. This was done. Arezza commented: “If found guilty Lee will be handed over to the Bureau of Immigration” presumably to be sent back to Korea. [5]

But Olongapo Councilor John Carlos de los Reyes, obviously reacting to the assault in the context of a history of incidents at the shipyard negatively affecting his constituents, commented that the suspension was “too soft a response.” [6]

In what must rank as high-order hypocrisy, given the toll taken on workers’ lives, limbs and health at SBMA in recent years, Arreza also stated that “we will definitely not tolerate or condone any form of violence at the workplace or any such incident that may compromise the safety and welfare of workers at the Freeport.” [7]

The question remains: When will the DOLE probe into the shipyard, announced after a death back in January, finally be completed? And speaking of probes, what has happened to the Senate probe, which kicked off promisingly in early February amid a flurry of publicity about the then recent deaths at Hanjin? [8]

Spearheaded by Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Pia Cayetano, it seemed likely to put the cat among the pigeons. After an onsite inspection, Estrada pointed to numerous breaches of safety standards and the violation of a number of provisions of the Labor Code. Cayetano said “only 21 of its 101 subcontractors are registered with the DOLE, raising the possibility that the practice of labor-only contracting is rampant.” Which, of course, was evidence of a very shonky operation and, as it turns out, a very dangerous modus operandi in shipbuilding.

In the face of such findings, and the continuing carnage at Hanjin, why has the Senate gone quiet? How can we account for the reluctance of DOLE, SBMA and even the publicity-seeking senators to bring Hanjin to account? Why have they “run dead” in giving protection to Filipino workers and Koreans who also have been victims of unsafe workplace practices.

Of course, the difficulties in getting the union registered even after a year since it was organized is a classic example of bureaucratic hurdles placed in the path of workers, denying them the capacity to collectively protect themselves. But there is more here. Surely the failure of government agencies to seriously attempt to protect these workers flows from the January warning by the South Korean ambassador that there would be “substantial and negative repercussions” should the Senate probe seriously address the safety and health record of Hanjin. That threat of “deep and far-reaching effects” certainly worked wonders. [9]

There has been no significant attempt by any government institution to rein in the cowboys operating at the Freeport facility who seem to obey only the law of the jungle. Certainly, the Korean threat was not seen as an empty gesture. Koreans have a considerable degree of leverage over the government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. They send the largest number of cashed-up tourists to the Philippines. They continue to welcome significant numbers of OFWs. In March, they announced the donation of 15 trainer helicopters to an under-equipped and sorely pressed Philippine military. [10]

Also in March, Korea announced it was extending a grant of P649 million for the farm sector in the Philippines. Along with the US$86 million promised investment at Subic Bay by Hanjin (making the SBMA Freeport a leader in the national growth stakes), it is clear that the failure to pursue the shipbuilder for its dismal record regarding worker health and safety has been rewarded handsomely. It is an old story played out once again in the Philippines. “He who pays the piper calls the tune.” But sadly for the Hanjin workers, it remains a funeral dirge.

(The author is a professor at the Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.)

Notes
1. See the Manila Times and the Philippine Star, June 24, 2009
2. Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 6, 2009
3. Philippine Star, June 8, 2009
4. Daily Tribune, July 1, 2009
5. Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 25, 2009
6. Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 4, 2009
7. Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 25, 2009
8. Philippine Star, 4 February, 2009
9. Philippine Star, January 25, 2009
10. Philippine Star, March 5, 2009
11. Philippine Star, March 28, 2009

[The Subic Bulletin] As a follow on to this story and as reported in The Subic Bulletin on July 8th. The Hanjin boss (Lee Cheon Sik) who was charged with attempted murder of a Filipino employee (Aceo Malit) paid his way out of the attempted murder charges for only 50,000 pesos. Mr Lee Cheon Sik must be smuggly smirking to himself, that must be less than a weeks salary for the Korean Expat.

Who Is The President Of The Philippines?

Comment from a reader on "Military Use of Subic Airport should be about noise polution":

I think it's not proper to address a person as President just because he is the president of some chamber of commerce. In a news article that is very misleading and should only be applied to heads of countries. Prof. Piano or Mr. Piano is good enough.

[The Subic Bulletin] We really don't think any of our readers thought the President of The Philippines was called Prof. Piano! If you were mislead by the reference submitted by our reader we could possibly arrange a book on Philippine history! As always thanks for your point of view.

National Highway Robbery In Barretto

The crocodiles that operate the LTO/PNP roadblock in Barrio Barretto seem to have widened their extortion activities against motorists.

They usually just look for people not wearing seatbelts, including tourists to the area, who they then extort. I've also seen them shaking down truck drivers.

They stopped us recently for having painted our vehicle. They said it is illegal to paint your vehicle from its original color. We noted that we had followed LTO regulations in doing the painting and had our Certificate of Registration updated in order to reflect the new color. We showed them up our updated CR with the correct color.

They then threatened to seize the vehicle! Our driver diffused the situation by negotiating the bribe down to 100 pesos. This is what visitors to the tourist businesses along the beach in Subic have to expect: shark attacks on land, not in the ocean.

[The Subic Bulletin] The main target of the roadblocks is usually unregistered vehicles, but we also had an experience when they pulled up the car I was in on my birthday, I had been drinking and they accused me of being drunk! This would normally be acceptable except that I was a passenger not driver in the vehicle and the driver had not drunk anything that day. When they said "sir, we think your drunk" I replied "Isn't that why he's the one driving?" (pointing to the driver).
I didn't know there was a law against being an intoxicated passenger. We know how you feel.

More On Investor Responsibility

Comment from a reader on The Korean Invasion.

I don't see anything wrong with the Korean investments, whether shipbuilding, hotels, restaurants, etc.

Subic Bay has a pretty diverse basket of investment. And it should not be seen as korean, japanese, taiwanese, americans, filipino, etc. It should be seen as services, manufacturing, tourism and other.

If the anyone who wants to build ships here, they can. Hanjin did. So do many other korean entrepreneurs.

You are stoking the fire, as many had done when the japanese came. Same thing when the taiwanese came.

I sense bigotry. But then again, I could be wrong.

and another...

hi, i appreciate the writer's thoughts and also share his concerns. But I must reiterate your statement that money talks and as long as people can be bought off then S.Koreans will have the freedom to do as they please. If a business application screening process was put into place along with trading standards then there wouldn't be maltreatment of workers (or at least less of it) and no korean only establishments.

On another note, the percentage of Filipinos setting up home in other countries far outweighs the number of immigrants in this country and if there was also prejudice against the OFWs (there is some) then what would happen to this economy?

[The Subic Bulletin] In many countries where Filipinos are OFW's they are looked on as second class citizens, especially in the middle east, but they get on with the job (and keep smiling). But there again, their actions are not causing numerous deaths and public outcry which is exactly the point, this commentary is not really about who is doing this but what they are doing.

Military Use of Subic Airport should be about noise pollution

Comment from a reader on: More Information From The Subic Chamber On Field-Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) at Subic Airport

The main thrust of President Piano's argument is that because the purpose of Japan-US security arrangements is the defense of Japan, the Japanese would be adverse to the relocation of FCLPs outside Japan. This argument is belied by Japan's active support of the relocation of the permanent basing of 8,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam, a location about equally distant from Tokyo as Subic.

The relocation of the Okinawa Marines and the relocation of the FCLP practice field are part of the same overall Re-alignment of U.S. Forces in Japan. A practice field for FCLPs outside of Japan would logically in no way detract from the the commitment of the U.S. to defend Japan, and might increase the readiness of the U.S. to defend Japan.

Naturally the U.S. would like to have the FCLP site as close as possible to the permanent land base of the U.S. carrier based aircraft in Japan. However, as described in the Associated Press article cited by President Piano, the Japanese at the proposed sites have protested fiercely, forcing the Japanese to look further afield.

Go to http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D993M1A00&show_article=1. Subic is about twice as far from Tokyo as the U.S. Navy's current FCLP site at Iwo Jima. Refueling at Kadena AB in Okinawa, Japan based carrier aircraft could reach Subic in a few hours. Because Clark could serve as a divert field during FCLPs, Subic would be much safer than Iwo Jima for FCLPs. Perhaps most significant in favor of Subic being chosen as a FCLP site, the U.S. Navy knows everything there is to know about flying out of SBIA.

Conducting FCLPs at SBIA would not foreclose civilian use of the Airport during periods when FCLPs are not being conducted, which would be most of the time. Since civilian use of SBIA would not be foreclosed, how could conducting FCLPs at SBIA transform it into a "base" within the meaning of the RP-US Military Bases Treaty? Admittedly, during the conduct of FCLPs, any civilian flights would probably have to be diverted to Clark. However, at this point, with the number of civilian flights coming into SBIA exactly zero, we have a long way to go before the conduct of FCLPs at SBIA could interfere with civilian aviation at the Airport.

The argument whether FCLPs should be conducted at SBIA should be focused on the noise pollution generated, and whether Subic residents are willing to accept that level of noise pollution in exchange for continued maintenance of the Airport as an Airport. Landings and takeoffs at SBIA occur over water and jungle. FCLPs would be conducted at night, but Fedex flights took off in the early morning hours, and no one complained. As for Crown Peak residents, one earlier post writer notably said that they would not notice the noise of FCLPs over the noise of the motorcycles and the dogs barking.

I respectfully submit that the Japanese Government is in a better position than the President of the Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce to determine whether the Japanese would be adverse to the relocation of FCLPs outside Japan. If the Chamber is unwilling to promote the idea of FCLPs to the Japanese Government, I suggest that the moderators of this forum send copies of the posts on FCLPs to the press attache at the Japanese Embassy in Manila, and invite the press attache to respond.

[The Subic Bulletin] We will check with the Chamber for any further response, if none we will send the thread to the Japanese Embassy for comment.

The Responsibilities Of Investors, Korean Or Not!

Comments from readers on The Korean Invasion

As an American I find these comments racist and I sincerely hope readers realize that not all Americans are this bigoted. If a Korean had written an article saying how bad Americans are and how we're ruining the Philippines, it would also be offensive.

I am a guest in this country and have been treated well by my Filipino friends. I hope they treat all nationalities with equal respect.

If foreigners bother you, why don't you go back to the US?

[The Subic Bulletin] The article you are commenting on was written by a Filipino about the relationship between Filipinos and Koreans. Most of us would like to know about the dynamics of this relationship and abuses of the system that are occurring. We agree the journalist was a bit harsh but there was nothing American about it.

And Another....

You have no prejudices against any nationality? HAHAHA what a joke. Just by reading your comments, it is clear that you are as biased as the author. You should change your banner to read "Straight Talking, Politically Neutral, Personally Biased against Koreans....and most of all Racist"!!!

[The Subic Bulletin] Well thanks for that, I lost brain cells just reading it.

The Subic Bulletin supports legitimate investment in Subic from any country or race and we will comment on abuses against Filipino's or things that are not good for the Philippines (especially Subic) whether you are Korean, American, Japanese, Australian, Chinese whatever.

Its our goal to keep this blog upbeat and positive about Subic but we won't be dragged into politically motivated sweet-talk. We knew this article would be controversial but as it was sent in by a reader so we decided to share it. The follow on article from the same author back peddles on some of his comments and focuses more on Hanjin, so we will print it soon.

Koreans weren't always the big spenders here in Subic, now old timer Filipinos in Subic tell you stories about how locals were horrified when the Americans rolled in and took over big areas of land and made a base, like it or hate it the Subic area prospered from the jobs and infrastructure that came with it.

Since the Americans there has been waves of investments from Japanese and Taiwanese and while some people grumble mainly out of jealousy the Subic area has enjoyed the prosperity that these investors have brought.

The moderation team of The Subic Bulletin is made up of several nationalities and we all have Korean friends, one of our very good Korean friends is a Business Adviser that moderates a blog in Korean advising Koreans how to integrate and communicate when entering into business ventures overseas. She is often frustrated with the steamroller way some Koreans approach there entry into another country. Many Koreans are interested in the opinions of others on what they are doing because it may not be obvious to them coming from a different culture.

The Subic Bulletin is also very supportive of Hanjin's presence in Subic or any other major employer who comes here and we can see the improvements especially in Subic Town where the increased family incomes has brought so many improvements, but this does not mean we should let them off the hook for social or corporate responsibilities and calling anyone who takes investors to task on their responsibilities a racist is letting down Filipinos and letting down Subic. Its a bit like blaming workplace accidents on "subcontractors", in the words of the Irish-born British statesman Edmund Burke: “The only way by which evil men prosper in society is for the good to do nothing."

It makes no difference to us where your from, acts that are good for Subic get commented positively and mischievous acts especially anything not good for Subic gets exposed. When we said "please keep your comments on the subject" we meant that we are talking about business and social changes the Koreans were bringing, we were not talking about Koreans themselves, it seems some of our readers are too driven by political correctness to be able to differentiate the two, but then different people with different ideals is what makes life interesting.

We support all investment, Korean or otherwise but our priority is to Support Subic!

SCTEX Radar speed traps for what speed?

The SCTEX operators has been busy putting up extra signs saying that the SCTEX has radar speed traps for monitoring speed and fining motorists.

Technically this is not true at all because the speed equipment they use is laser not radar, but that aside, one would assume that to fine motorists for speeding you would have to have clearly marked speed limit signs, which the SCTEX does have except that too many signs that conflict with each other have been placed in random locations.



This picture shows where a speed limit 80kph sign is only meters from a 100kph sign. So what is the speed limit? Is it only 80kph between these signs or is this the place that they locate the laser... errr radar equipment?

We had a discussion a few weeks ago about poor application of signs in SBMA but it seems the BCDA and SCTEX operators don't understand basic principles of signage either, but that doesn't seem to stop them writing out the tickets, tickets that would all be voided in other countries once the authorities saw this marvel of signposting!

Thanks To Our Readers

Comments from readers on "What Is The Subic Bulletin?":

Thank you, I appreciate your efforts to provide some real news and not some crap that sounds good to the voters. Keep up the good work.

Name Provided

-###-

BULLETIN, I'VE BEEN IN STATES APPROX ONE YEAR, WILL RETURN TO P.I. 11TH AUGUST, LEASED A PLACE IN BINITICIN FOR FIVE YEARS, PLAN TO STAY, OPEN A PLACE ON BASE OR BARRETTO FOR SOMETHING TO DO. I REALLY APPRECIATE MY BULLETIN EVERY DAY. MAIN CONTACT WITH SUBIC, THANK YOU

Name Provided

[The Subic Bulletin] Thanks for the kind words and to all the reader who have supported our efforts. You don't always have to agree with what you read here, in fact we hope sometimes you don't! But if you love Subic your welcome here. Please keep the contributions coming.

More Information From The Subic Chamber On Field-Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) at Subic Airport

Comment from Prof Danny Piano, President of the Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce

As mentioned in the June 29 email of the Subic Chamber, we said that we will look further into the possibility of conducting FCLPs in Subic as suggested by one of your readers. We did. Unfortunately, the idea is not feasible.

First, FCLPs are normally carried out on land, preferably close to where the aircraft carrier is. Why? Before any naval aviator, no matter how senior, goes to the boat, he must complete several FCLP periods at the field. A new pilot might need 12 to 16 FCLP periods before going to the boat, where a more senior pilot might only need four FCLP periods, but all pilots do them [1].

The US would need, therefore, to make a permanent base in the Subic Airport not only for regular FCLPs but for logistical support as well since Subic is about 2,500 kilometers from Japan where the aircraft carrier fleet is still based. Since the September 13, 1991 rejection by the Philippine Senate to extend the RP-US Military Bases Treaty [2], a permanent US base cannot be an option even if another country, like Japan, would be paying for it.

Second, in the email by your reader, it was stated that "Japan reaffirmed its commitment to the U.S. to identify a permanent facility for these exercises some place else than Iwo Jima." Your reader's assumption from this is that Japan is considering the transfer of the temporary FCLP facility in Iwo Jima to some other location, of which Subic is an option.

This, with all due respect, I think, is a wrong assumption.

The referred document of which a link was given is from Chapter 2. Leaning back for a broader view, one would find that this is only but part of a large publication called "Defense of Japan 2008" [3]. Earlier versions, 2005-2007, are also available.

One of the basis of these publications is Japan's National Defense Program formulated in December 2004 with the primary objective of preventing any threats from reaching Japan. It also discussed cooperative efforts with the US and the realignment of the US forces in Japan (including the transfers of personnel from base to base, e.g., Yokosuka, Atsugi, Iwakuni, Okinawa, Guam). In short, the publication is primarily about, well, as the title suggests, the defense of Japan.

Transferring any of the facilities to another country outside of the US-Japan Alliance was not even mentioned and not given consideration (at least none that I saw).

But why is Japan trying to find a more permanent site for FCLPs in the first place?

Is it because Iwo Jima is unsuitable for FCLPs because of the changeability of the weather and the lack of other divert airfields within 600 miles? Possibly. These conditions cannot be that bad, though. The US has been doing FCLPs at Iwo Jima for 36 years now! When CVW-5 arrived at Atsugi in 1973, the local community quickly reached its limit of tolerance for the noise created by carrier landing practice. Community opposition resulted in a 1973 agreement to move CVW-5 FCLP to Iwo Jima, where it is conducted until today. The Japanese government provides funding and C-130 transportation to move people and equipment between Iwo Jima and Atsugi [4]. As an aside, should we assume that the Subic community can tolerate the noise?

Would Subic be a better place in terms of weather and availability of divert airfields? Possibly. But what is it that the US and Japan want, in terms of location, for FCLP training of the Carrier Wing Five?

The US actually requested for a FCLP site within a radius of 180 kilometers from the U.S. Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Tokyo turned down the request. The Japanese government had considered Okurokamishima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, Mageshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, and the vicinity of the city of Sukumo in Kochi Prefecture as candidate sites (See a pattern here? These are all in Japan.) But the plans were aborted after strong protests. FCLP activities after all, including night landing practices, cause serious noise pollution [5].

In short, even if we want to accommodate a FCLP facility here at Subic (pros and cons aside), and even if it will be allowed by the Philippine government, it still will not happen… the Japanese has no plans of transferring it outside of Japan.

The Subic Chamber, however, appreciates the reader's suggestion. I am also personally inviting him to the SBMA/SBFCC Marketing and Promotion Working Group.

Thanks.
Prof. Danny Piano President, SBFCC

PS: For those who still do not know, we already have an airline based in the SBIA – Pacific Pearl Airways. Unfortunately, there are not enough passengers to have regularly scheduled flights. Other airlines are also interested to come in if we can have enough passengers to make their operation viable. The Chamber is now helping SBIA in conducting surveys so that they can focus on flights that will have sufficient number of passengers. The survey form is available here: http://subicchamber.org/downloads/SBIA_Flights_Survey_Form.pdf and you can email or fax your reply to the Chamber office. We are encouraging everybody to fill out the forms. We all want the Subic Airport to stay open; now here’s a chance to contribute. We can make it happen!

References:
[1] http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=2096
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Naval_Base_Subic_Bay
[3] http://www.mod.go.jp/e/publ/w_paper/index.html
[4] http://www.amdo.org/Westpac.html
[5] http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D993M1A00&show_article=1

[The Subic Bulletin] Thanks Danny for the effort in putting this together, we are pleased to see some real thought is going into this, although I must admit the moderator team lost a lot of interest in FCLP when you said "should we assume that the Subic community can tolerate the noise?".

Enough Is Enough Hanjin!

Comment from a reader on "Hanjin Boss Charged With Attempted Murder Of A Wor...":

At what point do these stop being "isolated incidents" and become a clear pattern of abuse by this company? Unfortunately, it is abundantly clear that the the Philippine government has traded the welfare and lives of these workers for Hanjin's investment, and Hanjin is making sure it gets the cheapest price possible for the lives of its throwaway Filipino workers. Not a proud day for either Filipinos or Koreans.

[The Subic Bulletin] We will have more stories on Hanjin's abuse of the Philippines later this week!

Filipinos Sure To Get The Guam Jobs

We have been swamped with readers mail sending us links regarding the jobs for Filipinos in Guam, there are two many to print as the story spreads. We selected the story below to share from the Manila Bulletin because it had more depth to the relationship between the two countries than just politics.

Guam hiring Filipino workers for US project

By BERNIE CAHILES-MAGKILAT

Guam is hiring as much as 15,000 construction and health workers, preferably Filipinos, to support the US government’s $15-billion military build-up over six to year years in this territory.

This was revealed by Guam governor Felix P. Camacho, who is leading a two-day Guam trade mission here, who said that the military build up in Guam followed after the transfer of US naval base from Okinawa, Japan.

Of the $15 billion, the Japanese government has committed $6 billion and the rest by the US government for an estimated combined investments of $15 billion for the establishment of various military facilities, infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges and support facilities like hospitals and housing for 8,000 marines and 9,000 dependents.

“We anticipate between 12,000 to 15,000 additional workers for this huge military build and the likelihood is that most of these workers would be recruited from the Philippines,” Camacho said noting this cannot be supported by its own manpower and its neighboring countries.

Of the 15,000 planned recruits, 80 percent are expected to come from the construction sector and only 20 percent from the health care professional services.

According to Camacho, the preference for Filipino construction workers could be traced back in 1945 after the World War 11 in which the reconstruction of Guam was mostly undertaken by Filipino contractors and Filipino workers.

“In fact, a third of the Guam population are descendants of Filipinos,” he said. Based on its 2007 census, there were over 173,000 population in Guam.

The long history of cooperation has built familiarity between Filipino workers and the Chamorro people, proficiency in the English language and the extensive experience of the Philippines in sending workers overseas.

In addition, Camacho said the US Federal government, which controls immigration, has decided to prefer Filipino workers for its military projects and not to accept Chinese workers for national security reason.

Already, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration is planning of putting up a liaison office in Guam to facilitate the recruitment and deployment of Filipino workers.

The Korean Invasion

Article written by Butch del Castillo for the Business Mirror sent in by a reader:

WHENEVER you see and hear them conversing in a public place, it’s easy to mistake them for the Japanese. Although they are just as boisterously loud as the Japanese (when talking to one another), the difference is their skin is generally paler. I know a few who are now sporting a healthy tan like a status symbol; a tan they no doubt acquired by luxuriously drenching themselves in the fairway sun of our fantastic golf courses. Their guttural accent and the syllables of their words make them sound like Japanese. This is the unmistakable mark of a people whose country had endured almost four decades of Japanese occupation. The people I refer to, of course, are none other than the South Koreans, whose now-divided country was under Japanese rule from 1910 to 1945.

I feel compelled to draw attention to these visitors, whose presence as tourists and investors in this country would normally be welcome—and even encouraged—for obvious economic reasons.

But lately, I’m afraid, the relationship between Koreans and Filipinos has begun to sour. Have you noticed how they have swelled in numbers lately, especially in the urban centers of Luzon and the Visayas? Why is it that I am getting this feeling that we have been invaded? In places where they have established their beachheads (if there is indeed, an invasion), the South Korean is definitely the most ubiquitous among visiting foreign nationals. In Metro Manila, they have added their loud voices to the usual din in such public places as malls and theaters, casinos, restaurants and bars, and other popular entertainment havens. In fact, many of them already own and run the bars, poker clubs and restaurants all over Metro Manila.

Even in the local private schools, there is a noticeable increase in the swarm of South Korean students enrolled at every level from grade school to tertiary. The number of South Korean enrollees in our private schools has exponentially grown, according to the Bureau of Private Schools. This tells us that more and more Koreans have made themselves at home in this country full of smiling, hospitable folk.

The local folk in Eastern and Central Visayas can’t help but notice that more and more South Koreans have begun to settle down and get into all sorts of small businesses right in their turf. I have yet to find out if the bureau is keeping track of them. We know that as a matter of policy, the government encourages the entry of tourists and foreign investors. But the sheer number of South Koreans coming, I’m afraid, is beginning to spawn a host of problems. Filipinos who come in contact with them all over the country are beginning to question their motives and resent their presence. I know for a fact that as proprietors of restaurants, bars or poker clubs, they have often been denounced for their shabby treatment of their workers.

Theoretically, the wealth and technical know-how they bring in would be mutually beneficial to them and the host country. But reports have been coming in with disturbing frequency that some Korean groups don’t give a hoot what permanent damage they may do here in satisfying their lust for profit.

Already of public knowledge is what they did in the Subic Bay Free Trade Zone. Here, they built a high-rise residential condominium in the middle of a virgin forest. They also tried to burn down several trees to make way for the construction of a hotel-casino in Subic. They succeeded in their clearing operations in the Subic forest, but were thwarted in the second project by a Filipino architect-environmentalist.

In Taal, another Korean group tried—almost succeeded—in putting up a hot-spring spa right at the foot of the active Taal Volcano. The group bribed its way to get official permission to build. Construction of the facility was nearly finished when the people of Taal woke up to what the group was doing, and protested. The national government, invoking the project’s lack of an environmental compliance certificate, stopped it dead on its tracks. And now—the latest hanky-panky—another group of South Koreans has gotten away with happened in the northernmost tip of Luzon, particularly in the beaches of Cagayan, home province of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. Cagayan has six coastal municipalities which used to have miles and miles of scenic and relatively undisturbed black sand beaches. The beaches have this rare, distinctive black sand that has become a favorite tourist destination. The sand’s color is black because of the presence of a mineral called magnetite. Magnetite is the stuff used in the smelting of iron ore into steel. South Korea’s steel industry is in perpetual need of magnetite. And here are miles and miles of Cagayan’s beaches that were just waiting to be gathered and shipped to the furnaces of the vaunted South Korean steel industry. A Korean mining group, called Jisan Mining Corp., according to Cagayan folk, has, in fact, been shipping off its black-sand extractions from the five towns for a long time with the full blessings of the provincial government. Thus, Jisan Mining has been merrily shipping off the black sand undisturbed in spite of loud protests from the townspeople. Huge barges were used in shipping off large chunks of the beaches over the last two years. The grim result of this callous destruction of our natural wealth was this: At least five of the six municipalities that had once been proud of those quaint beachfronts are now gone, permanently reclaimed by the sea. Literally, the South Koreans have sliced off the northernmost edge of Luzon and shipped it in chunks to South Korea! And that’s not all. Without the beachfronts, seawater has flooded the farms inland and made them totally unproductive. Saltwater is never good for any kind of farm crop. As reports would have it, Jisan Mining began to mine the beachfront of the sixth remaining municipality, the town of Buguey, in barangay Minanga Este. But this time, the mayor of Buguey, with the support of the municipal council and the townspeople, vehemently objected and actually stopped the Korean company dead on its tracks. But only momentarily. Soon after they had stopped Jisan’s mining operation with human barricades, the town of Buguey felt the full power of the provincial government slamming down on it.

Cagayan Gov. Alvaro Antonio, who was described as “unable to resist the persuasive arguments of Jisan Mining,” proceeded to suspend Buguey Mayor Ignacio Taruc based on an old administrative case, and put Vice Mayor Licerio Antiporda in Taruc’s place as acting mayor. Governor Antonio then issued a provincial permit to Jisan to do what it wanted, and Jisan Mining, as of this writing, was back in business. There were two things that Mayor Taruc did in trying to fight off Jisan Mining. First, he pointed out in writing to Governor Antonio that the extraction of the black sand was a blatant violation of the Mining Act and the Provincial Environment Code. Second, he brought the case to Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, who, on the recommendation of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO). The CDO, however, was too late. The Buguey beach was already ruined, with the beach and protective bunkers gone forever. What’s odd here is Governor Antonio’s full backing of the patently illegal extracting operation by Jisan Mining. To make sure that the townspeople do not disturb its operations on Buguey beach, he even deployed 100 policemen to protect the Korean firm’s workers from being harmed by the human barricades that had been set up to prevent the beach’s destruction. Mayor Taruc, for his part, is still serving out the maximum six-month suspension that the provincial board had imposed on him for his administrative infraction of “simple misconduct.” But he has not relented in his quest for justice on his own behalf and the people of Buguey. Governor Antonio has been charged for alleged abuse of power under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. And the people of Cagayan are now asking: Shouldn’t charges of illegal mining be filed against Jisan Mining and its accomplices? Shouldn’t the Department of the Interior and Local Government step in to prevent future abuses by the provincial government?

The other question they are asking is, shouldn’t the Korean ambassador to the Philippines be summoned by the Department of Foreign Affairs to complain about the abuses of Korean business firms in the country? This is one of many unsavory reports concerning the conduct of Korean businessmen in this country. In my next column, I hope to have marshaled the inside dope regarding Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Ltd. There, I suspect, is the biggest can of worms that the South Korean invasion of our business shores has brought to the Philippines.

[The Subic Bulletin] We look forward to this journalists next story on Hanjin although somehow we already know that money speaks louder than the words of the community when it comes to Korean Investment.

In Angeles City there has been many reports of Korean owned business that do not permit the entry of other nationalities, these establishments are for "Koreans only" they say and here in Subic we have the biggest areas of land to the North and South sold out to Koreans (and a power plant project to serve the Koreans to the West) and now the Freeport's centerpiece The Legenda Hotel being handed over to Koreans. It seems all we can do is pray for the Korean Won to crash.

Readers please keep any comments on the issue. We have no predudice for any nationality, but we do not want Subic sold off or taken advantage of by any one group.

Would Japan Pay For The US To Use Subic Airport?

Comment from a reader on "Subic Chamber Responds to Airport Issue"

In a Post entitled "Subic Chamber Responds to Airport Issue", Chamber President Danny Piano raised several objections to the U.S. Navy conducting Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) at Subic Airport. First, he states that the conduct of FCLPs would not result in a source of revenue for the Airport, stating, "the airport itself will most likely not benefit financially since Article VIII (Movements of Vessels and Aircraft) par. 3 of the VFA states that 'Vehicles, vessels, and aircraft operated by or for the United States armed forces shall not be subject to the payment of landing or port fees, navigation or overflight charges, or tolls or other use charges, including light and harbor dues, while in the Philippines'"

President Piano missed the import of the earlier post suggesting that FCLPs be conducted at SBIA. Because the Government of Japan is obliged by treaty to provide a site for the conduct of FCLPs, it is the Government of Japan, not the United States Government, that could be expected to pay for the privilege of the U.S. Navy conducting FCLPs at SBIA.

This obligation to provide a site for the U.S. Navy to conduct FCLPs was reiterated in a document entitled, "Security Consultative Committee Document, U.S.-Japan Alliance, Transformation and Realignment for the Future," dated October 29, 2005, in which the following sentence appeared:"The Government of Japan reiterates its commitment to provide an acceptable permanent FCLP facility or U.S. naval aviation forces"
http://www.mod.go.jp/j/news/youjin/2005/10/1029_2plus2/29_e.htm

Because the Government of Japan was not a party to the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the United States and Philippine Governments, the language Article VIII, par. 3 of the VFA quoted by President Piano would not constrain the Governments of the Philippines and Japan from reaching an agreement whereby Japan would compensate the Philippines for the use of SBIA for by the U.S. Navy for FCLPs.

President Piano also questions whether logistical support could be provided FCLPs at SBIA under the rubric of the annual RP-U.S. Balikatan exercises. However, there is nothing preventing the RP and the US from fashioning logistical arrangements separate from the Balikatan exercises for FCLPs, under Article VIII, par 1 of the VFA, which states:

Aircraft operated by or for the United States armed forces may enter the Philippines upon approval of the Government of the Philippines in accordance with procedures stipulated in implementing arrangements.

Finally, President Piano states: "It will require a lot of research and legwork to check the possibility of this [FCLP] option. The Chamber itself lacks the manpower and resources to deal with all the issues in and around the Subic Freeport. It only has three salaried employees." Again President Piano fails to appreciate the exigencies of the current situation. Iwo Jima, the site at which FCLPs have been conducted on a temporary basis for many years, is unsuitable for FCLPs because the changeablity of the weather and the lack of other divert airfields within 600 miles. Go to http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKE/is_11_47/ai_97388793/?tag=content;col1

For this reason, a "Roadmap" for implementation of the "Security Consultative Committee Document, U.S.-Japan Alliance, Transformation and Realignment for the Future," provides that a permanent site for Field Carrier Landing Practice shall be selected by July 1, 2009, or "as soon thereafter as possible".
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/security/scc/doc0605.html, at paragraph 4, see also
http://www.mod.go.jp/e/publ/w_paper/pdf/2006/4-2-3.pdf at p 236.

Therefore, it will not require a lot of research and legwork to get the ball rolling on the FCLP option for Subic Airport.

All it would take is drafting a letter suggesting the idea to the Japanese Ambassador, and hopefully a brief meeting with the Japanese Ambassador at which the letter could be delivered. In light of Japan's treaty obligations to provide a site for FCLPs, and the pending deadlines, the Japanese Government could be relied upon to carry the ball from that point forward.

Olongapo's Giant Open Sewer - SM Mega Smell

Comment from one of our regular contributors:

At the annual meeting of the Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce on June 30, 2009, Armand Arreza announced that SBMA would shortly be soliciting bids from the three largest mall developers in the Philippines to build a shopping mall on the property now occupied by FSC and the Night Market.

This property is on the banks of the aptly named "Drainage Channel", between the the Main Gate and Rizal bridges. At low tide, the Drainage Channel is a malodorous, garbage strewn eyesore. It is difficult to imagine any developer wanting to build an upscale shopping center there, because shoppers would be repelled by the sight and smell.

This section of the Drainage Channel needs to be dredged to a depth so that the bottom will be covered with water even at low tide. Dredging this area will require a clamshell or a dragline dredge on a barge. Launching this equipment into the Channel from a location between the bridges would be impossible because of power lines at the water's edge.

Launching from the Centennial Park area would be feasible, however, and the impending removal of the Main Gate bridge in the course of its reconstruction would provide a window of opportunity for a barge, launched in the Centennial Park area, to be brought into, and dredge, the area between the two bridges. Once the Main Gate Bridge is rebuilt, however, the access of a barge launched from Centennial Park to this area would be blocked by the bridge, and this window of opportunity would be closed.

When a questioner pointed all this out, Mr. Arreza responded that the City of Olongapo was responsible for dredging the Drainage Channel, not SBMA.

In his talk, Mr Arreza described SBMA's plans to expand SBMA's activities beyond the geographical confines of the Freeport Zone, and in particular, to foster the "redevelopment of downtown Olongapo". However, it is difficult to imagine any investor wanting to participate in the redevelopment of downtown Olongapo when the principal geographical feature of the area is an open sewer.

If SBMA really wants to foster the redevelopment of downtown Olongapo, the first thing it should do is dredge the area between Main Gate bridge and Rizal bridges, and when Kalakan bridge is removed during the course of its reconstruction, dredge the "National Park" section of the Channel between the Bay and Rizal bridge.

Both the Main Gate and Kalakan bridges should be rebuilt in such a way that the center span could be lifted out by a crane operating a clamshell or dragline, allowing access for future dredging. The shores of either side of the Drainage Channel should be developed as parklands, with an exhibit describing the history of the Drainage Channel. Such a a park would foster the reconstruction of downtown Olongapo more than anything else SBMA could do.

[The Subic Bulletin] You are obviously more familiar with dredging than most of us, so we thank you for sharing this information because you are right that any redevelopment of downtown Olongapo must include a plan for the drainage channel. We do wonder if the reconstruction of the bridges will involve the removal of the current piers or just the addition of more piers. Would SBMA or the construction company care if there is a bunch of unused piers down there? In which case the channel would never be open to the movement of a barge?

We are just thinking about the nick names for our new mall.... SM Mega Smell?

Traffic Branch Not Up To The Job In The Freeport

Comment from a reader on "SBMA's World-Class Traffic Management":

Yes, current situation is very dangerous. Lights not working or working infrequently. Stop signs that are not intended for current use as gauard station is closed. Half covered stop signs painted on roads. Proper and needed stop sign ignored my SMBA vechicle which almost caused a collision when SMBA vechilce proceeded without stopping.
The signage is a mess and very dangerous. THey need to hire an professional who understands international regulations. Someone is going to get very hurt.

[The Subic Bulletin] It has been reported to The Subic Bulletin that at the Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce meeting last week, members of the audience asked Administrator Arreza "what about the traffic lights?", he said "what about them", a chamber member responded "they don't work, they are dangerous" the administrators response was "that is the responsibility of the Law Enforcement Division, we will leave it with them".

For how long can we leave the responsibility with a group that is clearly remiss in their duties?

As previously posted on The Subic Bulletin the quotes on the SBMA website dated June 16 from LED traffic branch chief Lt. Benjamin Evia, http://sbma.com/newsroom/16jun09.html reveals complete ignorance in almost every aspect of the road, traffic and signage in the freeport.

Time for a change, who can steer the freeport in an international not local direction.

Guam Governor Confirms: Filipino Workers To Fill Jobs

Comment from a reader on Marketing The Olongapo Workforce

The Guam Governor has now confirmed that Filipinos are the first choice as imported workers for the Guam US Base build out.

By Agnes E. Donato • Pacific Daily News • July 2, 2009

Thousands of Filipino workers could be hired in the construction of new military bases on the U.S. territory of Guam, Gov. Felix Camacho told reporters in Manila on Tuesday.Guam will be hiring between 10,000 and 15,000 workers to support the U.S. military buildup, including the relocation of 8,000 Marines -- plus their families -- from Okinawa over the next few years, Camacho said

He said he expected skilled Filipino workers to fill job demands that can't be met by local labor alone.

"It is not exclusive but the likelihood is that most will be from the Philippines," Camacho said. Chinese workers will not be hired because of security concerns related to work on military bases, he said.

The buildup will cost at least $15 billion. Japan is covering $6 billion of the bill.

Camacho was in Manila as part of the Guam Trade Mission, which local executives organized to spur interest among Philippine companies in investing into Guam.

The trade mission drew more than 150 senior executives from several Philippine companies on Tuesday. They represented companies from the technology, real estate, construction, insurance, financial services, agriculture, aquaculture and medicine.

[The Subic Bulletin] Maybe some of the abused workers at Hanjin could get jobs where they are not beaten and abused by their employer.

PNP Patrolling Subic Freeport? NO THANKS!

Comment from a reader on "SBMA Cops Are Not Real Police":

So why the PNP is it not allowe to patrol inside Freeport SBMA? Of all the places Olongapo and Barretto have the largest and well equipped PNP Camps/Barracks.

[The Subic Bulletin] The charter of SBMA requires that it provides its own security force. If there is any serious crime committed in the Freeport such as when the detachment commander shot a motorist in Kalayaan last year the PNP is required to respond and lay charges.

Do you really think the PNP should be responsible for the Freeport and have access to the tourists and investors? We could possibly have another Balibago in no time...

Hanjin Boss Charged With Attempted Murder Of A Worker

Hanjin has been in the News constantly since it arrived in Subic both as a rich power lord that can get its own way anytime, even at the highest level of government, but also as an abusive employer who hides behind a curtain of deception it calls "subcontractors".

From speeding buses to railroaded power plants and numerous worker deaths, Hanjin has disgraced themselves over and over again and now news has broken that a Korean man working as a Manager at Hanjin has been charged with attempted murder of a local worker. But this is not an isolated incident this is the second time a Korean national working as a Hanjin manager has been accused of physical attacks on Filipino employees.

From The Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:03:00 07/04/2009

Filed Under: Murder, Crime

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines—A Filipino worker at the shipbuilding company Hanjin has filed a complaint for frustrated murder against a Korean foreman who allegedly attacked him with a metal flashlight in the head and face while at work on June 23.

Arceo Malit, 26, sued Lee Cheon Sik, 53, at the office of Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Jacqueline Suing on June 30 in Olongapo City.

Malit, of Sta. Rita village in Olongapo, attached in his two-page sworn statement a medico-legal certificate by Dr. Leonardo Toledo of St. Jude Medical Center.

Toledo certified that Malit suffered from multiple lacerations and abrasions as a result of the attack.

Senior Supt. Roland Feliz, Zambales police chief, was still checking if Suing had issued an arrest warrant for Lee. A frustrated murder case is bailable under Philippine laws.

Greenbeach, a subcontractor of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Phils Inc., heeded a recommendation of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to suspend Lee for 30 days starting June 24 pending the completion of an in-house investigation of the incident.

According to a Greenbeach official, Lee has been confined at the company’s staff house at the shipyard off Redondo Bay in Subic.

Greenbeach has not announced Lee’s likely dismissal but in a similar incident last year, the subcontracting company terminated the employment of a Korean foreman who figured in a similar incident, it was learned.

“I am thankful that I am not dead like the others who had accidents in Hanjin. But I am still not feeling well,” Malit said when he was at St. Jude Hospital.

Malit, pipe welder and foreman, said the attack began at Hanjin shipyard’s Bay 27 at about noon when a few workers were fitting the pipes to be welded by his team.

He said he was surprised when he saw Lee fuming mad.

To know what’s going on, Malit asked his coworkers to get a Korean foreman from their team to act as an interpreter.

Lee later said he was angry because work in his team was delayed.

Malit said Lee got more upset when the supervisor, Jeong So Hu, could not go to the area because it was lunch break.

Lee then led Malit to Hanjin shipyard’s Bay 28 where a container van and a stockroom were located. “I went with him because I thought he only wanted to talk. It was not clear to me why he was angry. He thought that I was the foreman of the men working there already,” Malit said.

When they entered the stockroom, Malit said Lee challenged him to a fistfight. “I didn’t want to fight or else I would lose my job,” he said.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza asked Lee’s Hanjin subcontractor to suspend the Korean foreman pending investigation.

Olongapo Councilor John Carlos de los Reyes said the suspension was “too soft a response.”

“The Korean foreman should have been fired immediately or his working permits taken away. There is no excuse and certainly no acceptable explanation for this kind of behavior toward our workers,” he said.

The incident had triggered pickets by labor groups in Zambales.

Robert Gonzaga and Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon

SBMA's Local Road Engineering Standards

Comment from a reader on your post "SBMA's World-Class Traffic Management":

HaHa, good response by SBMA but I would have expected because they probably "believes" that they adhere to international standards of road engineering including signage, so you got them on the "mini" stop signs, how about Argonaut highway going toward the airport, right lane where there are manholes sticking up in the middle of the lane??? Is that international standard????

[The Subic Bulletin] Even more concerning about Argonaut Highway heading towards the airport is the last corner you go around on before the airport, this seems to be the brand new section of road under SBMA's "international road engineering standards" has the highest accident rate in the Freeport!

As you go around the corner it all of a sudden shrinks to half the width, 100 meters later the road turns off in two lanes to go to the dock facility so SBMA is expecting two trucks wide of traffic going around the next corner but how will they get around the corner that's so skinny?

Even the work team marking the lines on the road just stopped marking them around the corner. How can an unmarked corner like this be in a Freeport that is so proud of its "international road engineering standards"? There has been several accidents near this corner, mostly in the rain which makes us think that the lack of drainage that forces the water to run across the road also contributes. So how does the international road safety team of SBMA handle the hazard? By placing an out of place 30k sign almost right on the corner...

Of course we all know that "international" standards would have signs placed before the corner that say "ROAD NARROWS" and "SLIPPERY WHEN WET".

While on the subject, what flash of brilliance made SBMA hijack Argonaut Highway and turn two lanes around a sharp corner when most of the traffic goes straight ahead anyway? The hazard they created in vehicles changing lane at the last minute because the road doesn't go straight ahead anymore is bad planning, bad design and bad management. Or did they just want us to try and forget about the airport?

Is Winstar LTO Authorised Using Green Plates?

Question from a reader on the Freeport's Taxi services:

Perhaps someone can tell me why some of the Windstar taxi's have private license plates and some have "for hire" plates. Also have noticed that the Mega Taxi's all have private plates?

And while on the subject of Windstar, if you hire a taxi at the main gate (Park & Shop) and go to Kalaayan the price is/was P140, however, if you call for a pickup in Kalaayan and go to the main gate (Park & Shop) the price is P220. Perhaps someone could explain the logic behind this method of pricing a ride that is the same duration and same distance???

[The Subic Bulletin] We believe outside the Freeport vehicles with green plates are not authorized or insured to cart passengers for hire. We are not sure about these laws inside the Freeport, but we have seen Winstar vehicles with green plates picking up outside the Freeport so we wonder how far Winstar's "protection" extends?

The pricing is a whole other matter, as the regular service is so infrequent, they seem to base their price on if they think they can pick up someone in the street on the way back.

Any others Winstar experiences to share?

Subic Chamber Responds To Airport Issue

Comment from Danny Piano who is the current President of the Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce in response to The Subic Bulletin story Field Landing Practice At Subic Airport:

The email from one of your readers regarding the US Navy’s Field Carrier Landing Practice can obviously be part of the various options to reviving the SBIA. The Chamber will definitely look into it. We are aware that this could not be as easy as it looks, however.

First, regular carrier-based FCLP’s will still require logistics support from a land base. A permanent base is obviously not possible because of the September 13, 1991 rejection by the Philippine Senate to extend the RP-US Military Bases Treaty. An alternative would be to do this under the Visiting Forces Agreement’s joint RP-US Balikatan Exercises. There is no doubting the legitimacy of the Balikatan Exercises after the RP Supreme Court ruled in its favor in April 11, 2002. The question, obviously, is how could there be possibly a joint Balikatan Exercise about FCLP’s? Finally, granting that it is possible, the airport itself will most likely not benefit financially since Article VIII (Movements of Vessels and Aircraft) par. 3 of the VFA states that “Vehicles, vessels, and aircraft operated by or for the United States armed forces shall not be subject to the payment of landing or port fees, navigation or overflight charges, or tolls or other use charges, including light and harbor dues, while in the Philippines”. It will have indirect financial benefits to others, though.

It will require a lot of research and legwork to check the possibility of this option. The Chamber itself lacks the manpower and resources to deal with all the issues in and around the Subic Freeport. It only has three salaried employees. The rest of the people involved, including the Board of Directors, works on a purely volunteer basis. We will still do our best to find more information about it, however.

With regards to the Chamber’s Airport Committee, there have been a lot of progress made already. The committee is composed of SBF locators, SBMA, and various stakeholders from within and outside the Freeport.

Information about the committee can be found on the chambers website http://subicchamber.org

Briefly, some of the alternatives being acted upon by the committee are:
1. Tour flights from South Korea. This is being spearheaded by Hanafil Golf in collaboration with Hana Tours, the biggest tour company in Korea.
2. Tour and OFW flights from/to Taiwan. Sammy Chou and Paul Gan of the Taiwan Chamber is spearheading this one. Talks with a Taiwan Ambassador is forthcoming.
3. OFW flights from/to Dubai. SBMA’s tourism and investment group are at the forefront of this one. The Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau and the Tour Operators group are also designing custom tour packages that will cater to various groups, from high-end tourists to OFW tours. Charles Davis, owner of Seahorse Tours and former director of America-On-Line is at the forefront of the design of these tour packages.
4. Future flights to/from Guam. This is being collaborated with Olongapo City’s Workforce to Guam group. Initial talks were already made with an airline company with existing flights from Guam to Japan to Australia and back. Obviously, a short Subic stopover in the Japan-Australia route is very feasible.
5. A few days ago, talks were also conducted with Ambassador Jimenez, owner of Pacific Pearl, about marketing local tourist destinations. Just recently also, the possibility of day tours to Hongkong was considered.
6. Yvette Ocampo of Jungle Joe’s World is conducting talks with various government agencies pushing for efforts to revive the Subic Airport.
7. The SBMA Airport Department, on the other hand, is busy contacting airline cargo companies who might be interested to use SBIA as their hub. The department, headed by Gen. Mar Santos also conducted a workshop to tie everybody’s efforts.

In line with promoting Subic, the SBMA/SBFCC Marketing and Promotion Working Group, also last week discussed other possibilities. This is a group composed of Business Group SDA Stef Sano, various SBMA heads, and SBFCC directors.

Needless to say, efforts from the Chamber, SBMA, SBF locators, and even businesses outside the Freeport are being done to revive the Subic Airport. There was a bit of a failure to widely inform the public of the efforts being made but we will try to correct this in the days to come.

Reviving SBIA is not an easy task so we invite you and your readers to join the Chamber’s Airport committee (or other committees) as volunteers. It does not even matter if you are not a member of SBFCC – the majority of the Airport Committee members aren’t. We need all the help we can get.

We thank you and your letter sender for providing inputs in trying to help the Subic Freeport – we are, after all, whether we like it or not, part of it.

Prof. Danny Piano
President, SBFCC

New Visa Category For Filipinos To Work In Guam

Comment from a reader on "Marketing the Olongapo Workforce":

To answer your question, yes the US has changed the H2 and some other worker categories for Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands. They lifted the cap and eased the restrictions in order to accomodate the build up necessary to relocate the Marines from Okinawa. The philippines will be competing with China and other nations for these jobs though.

[The Subic Bulletin] And more information:

Workers from Olongapo will get H-2B Visas. See the following regarding Gordon's efforts to market his City's workers:

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics5_mar28_2009,

http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/10723-olongapo-plans-ahead-of-us-bases-move-from-okinawa.html

Olongapo workers coming to Guam will enter under H-2B Visas. http://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/h-2b.cfm

[The Subic Bulletin] Seems like Mayor Gordon was ahead of the game on this one, lets see if Olongapo's offering can be internationally competitive. We hope so!

Last Call For Passengers Travelling To Subic!

Comment from a reader on your post "Park Those Planes At Subic Instead Of Hong Kong":

well the logistics of this one just wouldnt work fly 1.5 hours each way burning fuel just to park overnight? Come on!
Fill up with passengers yes great idea.

[The Subic Bulletin] The Subic Bulletin will publish an exclusive statement from the Subic Chamber airport committee in the next few days, lets see what ideas they have.

Debate On The Category Of The ILS

Comment from a reader on "A Deathly Silence From The Airport":

i doubt this anonymous guy has any clue what he is talking about. there is no such thing as a category 10 ILS they come in 3 categories 1 2 an 3 and three is subdivided into smaller groups. the ils at subic barely meets the cat 1 requirements.

Do SBMA Cops Know The Road Rules?

Comment from a reader on "New comment on Careless Cops Fleecing Motorists.":

a couple of nights ago i proceeded through the flashing yellow lights in the right lane opposite remy field then out of the trees can a whistle blowing cop. he said i didnt stop, i told him i didnt have too as all was clear. he was obviously trying to gain some cash so i told him in no uncertain terms that i would not bribe him and that i would report him to led hq, after which he backed off. gone are the good old days when the freeport was different to Manila.
directing traffic would be a good start other than hiding behind trees then jumping out to fleece motorists.

[The Subic Bulletin] Whats more frightening about this is that SBMA LED officers often don't seem to know the road rules?

The Credibility Of Victory Liner's Saftey Record

Comment from a reader on "Highway Robbery In North Luzon":

Subic Bulletin do you really believe there have been only 3 hold ups on Victory Liners in 30 years? Nobody believes that garbage. Get real! What about bombings and torching of Victory liners. I suppose you don't have any reports of that in 30 years. Your blog has no credibility.

[The Subic Bulletin] What we believe in this case is irrelevant, we have stated a fact based on Internet research and you want to dispute these facts but offer no research to prove your dispute, if there are more than 3 send us the links and we will gladly print them.

This discussions of Victory Liner in this Blog relate to the safety of catching a Victory Liner between Manila and Subic, so events that occurred inside a bus depot (or on empty buses) and did not involve or endanger passengers were not relevant to our story. Your most welcome to raise them but some legible specifics and links to support your story would be a good start and will make your comments more credible.

We look forward to you making a more meaningful contribution in the future.

We have listed the 3 robberies below that are reported

1) August 3, 2007
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20070608-70231/3_killed_in_Bulacan_bus_robbery_


2) February 12, 2009
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/02/19/09/robbers-hit-victory-liner-bus-daring-nlex-holdup

3) There are unofficial reports that a bus with plate number CWP-245 was robbed in San Fernando, Pampanga around the 30th of November 2001, but there doesn't seem to be an official report about this.

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