tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3007962102485511052024-09-05T03:53:30.017+08:00The Subic Bulletin – Straight talking, politically neutral, personally unbiased, and most of all..... PRO SUBIC!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-43794471277004657272014-09-20T06:00:00.000+08:002014-09-21T17:35:47.948+08:00

The Subic Bulletin has uncovered a plan by residents of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to boycott payment of the Common Use Service Area tax to the Subic Bay Metropolitan authority due to a severe lack of services that were promised under the scheme. "We were promised IMPROVED services under the CUSA scheme, but instead they have got considerably worse while Administrator Garcia is

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-4176309165593456642013-02-11T07:00:00.000+08:002013-02-11T10:02:27.444+08:00

In a landmark decision the Court of Appeals cancelled permission for the bullying energy consortium RP Energy to build their potentially polluting power plant in Subic. Although the anti-coal plant group originally filed a writ of kalikasan and requested a temporary environmental protection order the court informed the parties in its decision that these measures can only be implemented AFTER

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-56221253989819641122013-02-08T08:09:00.000+08:002013-02-08T15:17:22.894+08:00

This is truly a milestone day for democracy in the Philippines. For too long have the powerful people and big companies pushed the people into sub standards to feed their greed. Whether RP Energy wants to waste more resources on a dead deal or not the system has worked to halt flagrant disrespect for the will of the people.   By Robert Gonzaga Inquirer Central Luzon 9:54 pm |

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Subic Bay, Philippines14.7910576 120.2397336000000214.5454121 119.91701010000003 15.0367031 120.56245710000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-11588084122034629062012-11-19T10:58:00.000+08:002012-11-19T12:46:12.595+08:00

There is no evidence that any waste, toxic or not was actually dumped inside Subic Bay, in fact the harbor master says it was outside the bay but whether it was treated correctly or not is still unresolved and probably never will be. There is certainly no evidence that anything toxic ever existed, but for Subic Bay stakeholders we want to be sure nothing was released inside the bay toxic or

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-31291548284075349292012-10-22T13:53:00.000+08:002012-10-22T13:58:08.809+08:00

RP Energy never got to show their first Powerpoint slide in todays failed "public consultation meeting" when stakeholders and residents took over the floor asking why the DENR once again only invited "friends" of RP Energy not stakeholders who had heard about the meeting on Facebook, gave no notice of a meeting, did not provide materials and told everyone the question time would be limited. The

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-86430230139261575152012-10-17T06:00:00.000+08:002012-10-17T09:26:03.713+08:00

Comment from a reader on the story "Subic Bay - Stop Sign Hell": Why are bicycles allowed to go through stop signs without stopping or even slowing down without ever getting ticketed by the police? Several times when I leave a stop sign when it is my turn to go a bicycle goes right in front of me without stopping at his stop sign. Don't they also have to make a full stop like vehicles? I am

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-90568701351578446562012-10-15T06:00:00.000+08:002012-10-15T06:00:00.970+08:00

Comment from a reader: And what about the non-working traffic lights on the busiest crossing in town, Rizal Avenue and Argonaut Highway. The two posted policemen are just waiting for an accident to happen instead of controlling the traffic. And what about the turn off to Tipo on the Rizal Highway? Again the traffic lights stopped working some weeks ago. As there are no traffic signs, the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-68769503526334156952012-10-12T05:58:00.000+08:002012-10-12T10:24:10.271+08:00

Comment from a reader on "Subic Bay - Stop Sign Hell": I fully agree with the comments in respect of STOP signs. But can we go back a page. Who decides these rules and regulations. Surely it can't just be left to the Traffic Police to decide these things unilaterally they must get instructions to place the signs and where they are to be placed from the highest authority who in turn must

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-65312640650374000802012-10-09T06:34:00.000+08:002012-10-09T06:34:00.247+08:00

Letter from a reader: I am concerned that SBMA's desperation for revenue is the objective behind the huge amount of stop signs placed along Rizal Avenue, is this the only way they can generate funds?   SUBIC BULLETIN: We share your concerns that SBMA seems to have illogically placed stop signs on one of the Freeport’s busiest road for no apparent reason we find it hard to

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-26023708141975207752012-10-06T11:21:00.000+08:002012-10-06T11:21:06.044+08:00

The locators and residents of Subic Bay had such high hopes for the leadership of SBMA with the new board and appointment of Chairman Garcia, but so far it’s been a string of disappointments. Now even former SBMA chairman and now chair of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has been added to those disappointed in Chairman Garcias decision making capacity citing the CUSA as

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-41242162869874963422012-09-03T06:00:00.000+08:002012-09-03T06:00:07.871+08:00

The staff of the Subic Bulletin was very optimistic for change when SBMA Chairman Garcia and the new board came into power, but we are still waiting... So far we have been disappointed to see: Senior SBMA Administrators entangled in smuggling and a Senate investigation Worsened security including a severe spate of burglaries in residential areas Locators and residents lumbered with a

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-4144038839546938292012-09-01T08:52:00.000+08:002012-09-01T08:54:56.705+08:00

Sec Almendras, the former employee of Aboitiz now Sec of the Dept. of Energy says Govt. LGU's should be ignored. http://www.interaksyon.com/business/41765/doe-pushes-insulation-of-power-projects-from-local-politics We Say: Has Sec Almendras forgotten what our national heroes fought for? Has he forgotten that the Philippines was given to the people? How dare he suggest that the will of the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-38901029060524969272012-07-05T06:00:00.000+08:002012-07-05T06:00:06.098+08:00

The latest move from the corrupt bowels of the RP Energy dirty tricks department was a fake social acceptance meeting staged last Friday and Freeport stakeholders were definitely NOT invited. It was Subic Bays best kept secret to business leaders, residents and stakeholders while RP Energy put on a road show reminiscent of Presidential election time. The night before this façade,

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-51189710441136939612012-06-20T06:00:00.000+08:002012-06-20T06:00:04.142+08:00

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Top officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) have asked President Benigno Aquino to relocate the 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant project of an energy consortium out of Subic due to the potential danger it poses on the freeport and mounting opposition from stakeholders of the economic zone. “This is the official position of the board [that was

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comSubic Bay, Philippines14.7910576 120.239733614.6682381 120.0818051 14.9138771 120.39766209999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-57523450289939381412012-06-12T12:59:00.000+08:002012-06-12T12:59:25.077+08:00

Letter from a reader: Dear Subic Bulletin, I have a problem here in Kalayaan that I would like to discuss. We bought a nice dog for our children and within days it was stolen, about 6 months later we got another dog and again within days it was stolen. What I find very suspicious is that both dogs were stolen from our front yard and both within a 20 minute window during which the garbage truck

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-31396312935155085622012-06-04T02:25:00.000+08:002012-06-04T02:25:46.996+08:00

It was reported in the local Tagalog press last Friday June 1 that Winstar Transport services was deregistered by the SEC 9 years ago. Obviously, the first question we all must ask is how did SBMA continue to accredited and register as a locator a company that does not exist? Even more concerning is the possibility that responsibility for a serious or fatal accident involving an illegally

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-46843263643224564362012-05-31T06:00:00.000+08:002012-05-31T06:00:05.417+08:00

From a reader: I just returned from attending the public hearing at the Convention Center on the new common use fee. It was explained at the hearing that the fee was needed largely because SBMA's principal source of revenue---lease payments---had dried up. Exisiting leases have been paid in full in advance, and SBMA has run out of land to lease, 60% of the Freeport being forest protected from

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-72373941532790009692012-05-29T06:00:00.000+08:002012-05-29T06:00:02.314+08:00

From a reader: SBMA is publicly claiming, as justification for imposing a Tax called CUSA that it’s projected P1.2 Billion to P1.5 Billion annual revenues are insufficient to meet its expenses, and haven't been since 2005. However, at the meeting of the Kalayaan residents and locators on May 27th, SBMA representatives disclosed, under questioning, that P800 Million of their claimed expenses

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-65248972550319793322012-05-26T16:20:00.002+08:002012-05-27T17:45:06.690+08:00

Last week SBMA called a meeting with Locators in Subic Freeport to tell them that SMBA was broke and could not meet their obligations. SBMA's answer to their problem, TAXES disguised as services fees! Yes it now seems a regular event to struggle through the COLR or CUSA or whatever other name SBMA officials can find to create a new tax and each time SBMA is given categorical thumbs down by the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-32234922680272849532011-12-23T06:00:00.000+08:002012-01-04T00:49:55.058+08:00

As reported in the Subic Bulletin, the ever elusive executives from RP Energy made claims on the September 12 meeting with Locators that prior to any excavation or land works they placed silt curtains along the shoreline to prevent damage to the Subic Bay, however photos uncovered by The Subic Bulletin clearly shows landworks on the RP Energy site underway with no curtains in the water

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-3027474193827354392011-12-12T06:00:00.000+08:002011-12-12T06:00:01.395+08:00

Comment on from a reader on: "RP Energy Violates & Defies Our Community." Ray Cunningham and RP Energy, these gutless cowards, hide behind the skirts of their attorneys to avoid honest discourse. Their slogan is "profit over people!" We are the 99%! THE SUBIC BULLETIN: I think we were all surprised when the RP Energy executives failed to keep their promise of facing the locators of

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-56872706118069812102011-12-10T06:00:00.000+08:002011-12-10T06:00:00.979+08:00

Comment from a reader: SBMA Chairman Garcia describes the lack of business at, and resultant lack of revenue from, Subic's container port as a chicken-egg problem--the problem being how to encourage shipping lines to stop at Subic when a lack of cargo to load and discharge at Subic discourges them from stopping at Subic. It is a chicken-egg problem because the ostensible reason for the lack

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-49718583785454017382011-12-09T09:28:00.001+08:002011-12-09T09:47:38.777+08:00

It’s no surprise that the big firms behind the coal fired power plant in Subic think that they can railroad the Subic Communities but does Ray Cunningham from RP Energy also think we are stupid? His latest statement that there is only minor opposition to the Coal Fired Power Plant is absurd and if that was the case why is he afraid to face the community? This week SBMA organized a series of

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-82634279970180271512011-10-17T11:47:00.000+08:002011-10-17T11:47:29.940+08:00

Question from a reader:I have two queries regarding the claim reported in the article "Subic Bay, Soon to be a Dead Bay?" that discharging water circulated through the power plant would be akin to flushing Subic Bay with distilled water, with negative effects on marine life in the Bay: 1) Every time it rains over the Bay, the Bay is flushed with distilled water. How would this be any different?2)

Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300796210248551105.post-37760502584728587392011-09-26T06:00:00.000+08:002011-09-26T09:50:35.344+08:00

We read with interest the letter of response written by SBMA Chairman Bobby Garcia to Alex Hermoso regarding the RP Energy funded Coal Fired Power Plant planned for Redondo peninsula. If you haven't yet read it CLICK HERE to view it. In his letter Chairman Garcia says: “...Rest assured, the SBMA is very much aware of the opposition mounted by the various stakeholders to the project. In

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com