U.S., Philippines on Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement Project
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Subic bay news vol 12 no 03 15.00Php Senate Bill seeks expansion of Freeport SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is seek- ing the expansion of Subic Bay Freeport U.S., Philippines on Enhanced Defense boundaries to be used as economic zones. Wilma Eisma, chairman and ad- ministrator of SBMA, on Wednesday said Cooperation Agreement Project Senator Richard Gordon has filed Senate Pampanga, January 30, 2019 — U.S. Am- critical to the U.S. and Philippines’ ability EDCA builds capacity for U.S. Bill No. 2207 which seeks to expand the bassador Sung Y. Kim and Secretary of to respond quickly and effectively to hu- forces and the Armed Forces of the Phil- area, not just of the Subic Bay Freeport, National Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana manitarian crises in the region. ippines by enabling greater interopera- but also of the Clark Freeport. cut the ribbon on the first major project “This project illustrates not only bility, capability development, and mod- Gordon was SBMA chairman under the Enhanced Defense Coopera- our commitment to the U.S.-Philip- ernization. from 1992 to 1998. tion Agreement (EDCA) at Cesar Basa Air pine alliance, but also both of our The United States is working Eisma said under the proposed Base, Pampanga, on January 29. countries’ dedication to peace and closely with the Philippine government measure, some parts of Zambales and The ribbon-cutting ceremony stability in the larger Indo-Pacific on future EDCA projects at four other Bataan provinces, along with areas in marked the completion of construction region,” said Ambassador Kim. “For locations: Fort Magsaysay Military Res- Olongapo City, will be made an adjunct on a Humanitarian Assistance and Disas- over seven decades, our alliance ervation, Lumbia Air Base, Antonio Bau- of the Subic Bay Freeport under a phased ter Relief warehouse, which will be used has effectively addressed security tista Air Base, and Mactan Benito Ebuen expansion program. Air Base. (By U.S. Embassy Manila) Eisma also said that in consulta- to preposition equipment and supplies issues in the region.” tion with neighboring local government units last year, the SBMA has gotten pledges of more than 21,000 hectares of expansion areas for future investment projects. These included 9,000 hectares in San Antonio; 10,000 hectares in San Marcelino; 500-600 hectares in Subic; 500 hectares in Castillejos; and 900 hect- ares in Olongapo City, all in Zambales; as well as 505 hectares in Hermosa, Bataan. “We want these areas to be uti- lized as economic zones because we are already running out of space in the Subic Bay Freeport,” Eisma told local media in an interview. The proposed expansion, she added, “will sustain the growth of the Subic Freeport, attract more invest- ments, and generate jobs for residents from nearby communities and other ar- eas.” Senate Bill 2207 also seeks to in- crease the area of the Clark Special Eco- nomic Zone from the current 4,400 hect- ares to 35,400 hectares and mandates Subic and Clark authorities to frame some master plan for the phased expan- sion. (PNA) Health centers open for measles vaccination on weekends Health centers will be open on weekends to provide immunization for children in order to control the outbreak of the dis- ease. Ambassador Kim and Secretary Lorenzana toss coins at the Basa Air Bass HADR warehouse, symbolizing good luck and fortune "Pahahabain po natin ang oras at for the newly constructed building. araw ng pagbabakuna para sa mga bata pati Sabado at Linggo. Batay po sa pag- aaral ng World Health Organization, mal- iban sa Dengvaxia scare, madalas sinasa- bi ng mga nanay wala kaming oras dahil nagtatrabaho kami, sa ngayon wala nang magiging dahilan na ganyan (We will extend the hours and days of vaccina- tion for the children including Saturdays and Sundays. According to a study of World Health Organization, besides the Dengvaxia scare, mothers usually say we don't have time because we work, now there'll be excuse like that)," Health Sec- retary Francisco Duque III said during a press briefing at Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City on Saturday. Duque explained that the De- partment of Health (DOH) will continue with the measles immunization cam- paign "until the agency reaches the sat- uration drive leading to birth immunity possibly in May". "This means majority of our pop- ulation has been vaccinated kahit ang kakaunti ay hindi pa nakakapagbakuna, hindi na po makakaalpas ang measles vi- rus at hindi na makakahawa. Corrective immunity dahil sa ngayon mababa po ang ating birth immunity, bawat isang kaso ng measles ay may katumbas na la- (left) Ambassador Kim delivers remarks at the ceremony unveiling the HADR warehouse. (right) Secretary of National Defense bing-walo na kanyang hahawaan (even Delfin N. Lorenzana and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim cut the ribbon on the first major EDCA project, a Human- see HEALTH CENTER,page 02 itarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) warehouse, at Cesar. Subic Bay News www.subicbaynews.com 02 P300-M US intel U.S.-Ph Partnership on ENTERTAINMENT support to PH Citizen Engagement MANILA -- Malacañang on Monday announced that the Armida Siguion-Reyna United States government has committed to provide the and Good Governance Philippines with PHP300 million to enhance the country’s ‘pillar’ of intelligence gathering capabilities. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo wel- comed this development and described it as proof of PH entertainment strong ties between long-time allies, the Philippines and US. MANILA -- Malacañang on “We welcome the United States' commitment in Tuesday expressed condo- fighting terrorism. This shows that our military alliance lences to the family and with the United States remains strong,” Panelo said in a friends of the late former statement. Movie and Television Review Panelo, who described terrorism as “the new evil Classification Board (MTRCB) in the world that strikes at every country”, said the Phil- chairperson Armida Sigu- ippines could use assistance from United Nations (UN) ion-Reyna. member countries in efforts to fight terrorism. "The entertainment “We need all the help as every member-country world has lost one of its pil- in the United Nations needs the assistance and cooper- lars, and the Palace expresses ation of each other to combat and crush terrorism,” he its condolences to the fami- added. ly, friends and colleagues of Panelo said that government continues to ensure the former Movie and Tele- the safety of all Filipinos especially during attacks perpet- vision Review Classification uated by terrorist groups. Board Chairperson Armida “Our armed forces are relentlessly pursuing the Siguion-Reyna," Presidential mass murderers even as some of them have been crimi- Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing. nally charged and presently detained. We assure the na- He called Siguion-Reyna an "independent mind of tion that security for our people have been enhanced,” her own" and a "principled citizen". Panelo said. "She has demonstrated this kind of character all Meanwhile, Panelo pointed out that despite re- throughout her career, specifically when she was Chair- cent bombings in Mindanao, Filipinos were not cowed man of the MTRCB where she defended artistic liberties and still participated in the plebiscite on the ratification of in cinema," he said. the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Panelo cited her contributions in the film, music, “While the terroristic acts have created fear and and television industry. anxiety in the inhabitants of the region, they however re- "I remember like many others of my generation fused to be intimidated and cowed as they exercised their and the succeeding ones, we grew up as well as they right of suffrage in the just concluded plebiscite,” Panelo watching the television program ‘Aawitan Kita’ which she said. hosted and produced on television for more than 30 years. He also urged Filipinos anew to report to the au- In fact, that particular show popularized Kundiman songs thorities any suspicious act by any person or group of per- which lately have been aired on radio songs like ‘Anak Dal- sons in their communities that may endanger their lives. ita’ and ‘Dahil Sa’yo’," he said. (PNA) Siguion-Reyna, half-sister of former Senate Pres- ident Juan Ponce Enrile, passed away on Monday due to cancer. She was 88. DepEd assessment of U.S. Partners with Philippines Grade 12 learners to Improve Broadband Access MANILA -- The Department of Education (DepEd) is con- As part of the USAID's ENGAGE project, a group of in- ducting an assessment of Grade 12 learners in all schools, ternally displaced youth participate in a community both public and private, for school year 2018-2019 to de- vision exercise designed to address the needs of peo- termine the effectiveness of the K to 12 program. ple displaced by the Marawi siege. In a statement, the DepEd said about 1.4 million Cebu City — The U.S. and Philippine governments cele- Grade 12 learners will take the Basic Education Exit Assess- brated the accomplishments of a six-year U.S. Agency ment (BEEA) on Wednesday and Thursday. The schools’ di- for International Development (USAID) project that has visions and secondary schools’ personnel will assist in the worked to improve peace and stability in conflict-affected administration of the test. areas in Mindanao. The Enhancing Governance, Account- "BEEA shall cover the 21st century learning skills ability and Engagement (ENGAGE) project is a six-year, and the core Senior High School learning areas of Lan- Php 860 million U.S.-Philippine partnership to advance guages, Humanities, Communication, Mathematics, Sci- social and economic inclusion and stability by empower- ence, Social Science, and Philosophy," the statement read. ing communities to participate in effective and inclusive It would also provide information to improve in- governance.