SBMA Cruise Tourism Program Nets 75,000 Visitors
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Subic bay news vol 12 no 38 30.00Php SUBIC BAY FREEPORT SPECIAL INSIDE SBMA cruise tourism program nets 75,000 visitors SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — More than 75,000 cruise ship passengers have arrived in this Freeport in the last 20 months under the cruise tourism pro- gram launched by the Subic Bay Met- ropolitan Authority (SBMA) in February last year. SBMA Chairman and Adminis- trator Wilma T. Eisma said the steady influx of Chinese tourists, who comprise almost all of the cruise liner passengers going to Subic, “had significantly sus- tained Subic’s tourism program and con- siderably boosted its claim to fame as the next cruise ship playground in Asia.” “Our cruise program has been picking up, and, after logging more than 38,000 cruise visitors last year, as well as more than 39,000 from January 2 to Oc- tober 1 this year, we expect to top these records with about 54,000 by the end of this year,” Eisma said. “We are also proud of the fact that through this program, we have gen- erated more than P261 million in direct and indirect revenues since February last year,” she added. Records at the SBMA Tourism Department indicated a total of 34 cruise ship arrivals here since February 2018 that brought into Subic and neighboring communities a total of 77,485 foreign tourists. Of this number, 75,450 or 97.37 percent were Chinese. Four cruise operators now visit the Subic Freeport: the Italian firm Cos- ta Crociere, which logged in 22 arrivals for its flagship MS Costa Atlantica; the Hong Kong-based Dream Cruises with nine dockings of MV World Dream; Star Cruises, which booked two arrivals for MV Superstar Gemini; and Royal Carib- bean Cruise, which once brought in MS Ovation of the Seas. see SBMA Cruise , page 03 Chinese tourists from MS Costa Atlantica have their photos taken at Subic’s Waterfront Road upon arrival on Oct. 1 U.S., Philippines, and Japan Kick-off Maritime Training Activity by 1st Lt. John Doherty, 3rd Marine air defense and threat reaction drills be- Expeditionary Brigade tween Philippine and U.S. forces, which Manila, October 22, 2019 — The Philip- support territorial defense training. pines, Japan, and the United States con- “For the past nine days, we saw ac- ducted the closing ceremony of exercise tion, not on the battle field, but on the KAMANDAG 3 at Marine Barracks Rudi- training grounds, and we sweat and did ardo Brown, Taguig, Manila, Philippines, our best to enhance our Soldiers’ and Oct. 18, 2019. Marines’ capabilities in warfighting and The ceremony marked the end also humanitarian assistance and disas- of the Philippine-led, bilateral military ter relief,” said Brig. Gen. Ariel R. Cacu- exercise, which was designed to increase litan, Philippine Marine Corps deputy readiness, improve joint responsiveness, commandant. “The point is we must all and enhance partnership and interop- be prepared whenever we need these erability between Philippine, Japanese, capabilities, either warfighting or hu- and U.S. forces. manitarian assistance and disaster relief, “Our forces have enhanced ca- and I think this whole exercise we have pabilities, interoperability, and readiness met the goals and objectives.” through teamwork fostered by a true Throughout the exercise, Philip- dedication to the attainment of excel- pine and U.S. service members conduct- lence,” said Maj. Gen. Paul J. Rock Jr., ed training in amphibious operations, Philippine, Japanese and U.S. commanders and distinguished visitors stand together live fire drills, military operations in -ur during the conclusion of the closing ceremony for exercise KAMANDAG 3 at Marine Bar- 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade com- ban terrain, reconnaissance, low altitude racks Rudiardo Brown on Oct, 18, 2019 KAMANDAG advances military modernization manding general. “Seeing the output air defense, aviation operations, human- and capability development through subject matter expert exchanges. KAMANDAG is an of their hard work and expertise, I have itarian assistance and disaster relief, and acronym for the Filipino phrase “Kaagapay Ng Mga Manirigma Ng Dagat,” which trans- the utmost confidence that our forces other areas. lates to “Cooperation of the Warriors of the Sea,” highlighting the partnership between stand prepared in their mission to up- The Japan Ground Self-Defense the U.S. and Philippine militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mackenzie Carter) hold peace and security throughout the Forces participation in the exercise fo- Indo-Pacific region.” cused on humanitarian assistance and This year’s KAMANDAG marked disaster relief training scenarios. All two major exercise milestones: the three countries partnered during a va- Philippine Marine Corps successfully riety of community relations events, in- launched its assault amphibious vehicles cluding teaching hundreds of local civil- (AAVs) for the first time alongside U.S. ians in the Luzon region about lifesaving and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force skills, disease prevention practices, and AAVs to conduct a multilateral amphibi- overall personal wellness. ous landing; additionally, significant ad- “I’m really confident that we have vancements were made during bilateral achieved the exercise objective to en- hance our humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operational capabilities and foster mutual understanding and re- lationships among the Philippines, U.S. and Japan” Col. Yoshikatsu Fujii, 2nd Am- phibious Rapid Deployment Regiment, Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade commanding officer. “We could not have reached the goal without the coop- eration of the Armed Forces of the Phil- ippines and the United States forces.” KAMANDAG, which ran from Oct. 9 to 18, is an acronym for the Filipino U.S. Marine Major General Paul Rock walks down the aisle at the conclusion of the closing phrase “Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma ceremony for exercise KAMANDAG 3 at Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown on Oct, 18, 2019. Ng Dagat,” which translates to “Coopera- KAMANDAG advances military modernization and capability development through subject tion of Warriors of the Sea,” highlighting matter expert exchanges. Rock Jr. is the commanding general of 3rd Marine Expeditionary the strong friendship, partnership, and Brigade. KAMANDAG is an acronym for the Filipino phrase “Kaagapay Ng Mga Manirigma Ng alliance between the Philippine and U.S. Dagat,” which translates to “Cooperation of the Warriors of the Sea,” highlighting the part- Branch: 1677 Rizal Ave., West Tapinac,Olongapo City militaries and peoples. nership between the U.S. and Philippine militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Macken- zie Carter) Subic Bay News www.subicbaynews.com 02 Indonesian Navy Ships Japanese, Philippines and U.S. Marines visit Subic Bay conduct amphibious landing KATUNGKULAN BEACH, Philippines --The Armed Forces of the Philip- pines, Japan Self-Defense Force, and U.S. Armed Forces united to con- duct an amphibious landing exercise at Katungkulan Beach, Marine Bar- racks Gregorio Lim during Exercise KAMANDAG 3 on Oct. 12, 2019. The ship-to-shore maneu- ver, which was the culminating event of two weeks of combined training focused on assault amphibi- ous vehicle interoperability, marked The Indonesian Navy Ships KRI JOHN LIE (358), above, the first time the AFP conducted a and KRI FRANS KAISIEPO (368), below, arrived here in multilateral amphibious landing Subic Bay on Oct. 15 for a four-day goodwill visit to engage with its own AAVs. The drill’s success Filipino counterparts in various maritime activities like ship- validated the multinational forces’ board tours and friendly games to enhance cooperation be- ability to conduct complex, syn- tween the neighboring navies.(SubicBayNews photos by chronized amphibious operations, Vic V. Vizcocho, Jr.) and it reaffirmed the partnerships between the Philippines, Japan and the United States. “It’s a major challenge tak- U.S. Marine, Philippine Marine and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members ing three different elements with assault amphibious vehicles line up along the shore following an amphibious different backgrounds and bringing exercise as part of KAMANDAG 3 at Katungkulan Beach, Marine Barracks Gre- them together to execute one goal,” gorio Lim, Philippines, Oct. 12, 2019. KAMANDAG helps participating forces said Philippine Marine Sgt. Roderick maintain a high level of readiness and responsiveness, and enhances com- Moreno, an assistant team leader bined military-to-military relations, interoperability, and multinational coordi- with 61st Marine Company, Force nation. KAMANDAG is an acronym for the Filipino phrase “Kaagapay Ng Mga Reconnaissance Group. “It was defi- Manirigma Ng Dagat,” which translates to “Cooperation of the Warriors of the nitely a learning experience, but ev- Sea,” highlighting the partnership between the U.S. and Philippine militaries. ery year we participate in KAMAN- (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Harrison Rakhshani) DAG, we get more in tune with our allies.” “Today was about effectively coordinating with our allies from the Philippines and Japan. AAVs representing each country maneu- vered simultaneously to conduct a movement up the beach. It’s crucial that we know how to do things side by side, so that in the face of serious military or humanitarian crises, we can work together to overcome the challenges that face us.” U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Malcolm Dunlop, an AAV platoon commander with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division The broad sequence of train- ing events included Philippine and U.S. reconnaissance of the beach, the three country’s AAVs launching from the Philippine BRP Davao Del Sur (LD 602) and the American USS Germantown (LSD 42) then com- U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Paul J. Rock Jr., right, and Japan Ground Self-Defense ing ashore, Philippine and U.S. Ma- Force Maj. Gen. Shinichi Aoki observe an amphibious exercise during KAMAN- rines securing the objective, and DAG 3 at Katungkulan Beach, Marine Barracks Gregorio Lim, Philippines, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Adminis- Japanese Soldiers leading a medical Oct. 12, 2019. KAMANDAG helps participating forces maintain a high level trator Wilma T.