Comment from a reader on the state of the Subic Freeport:
SBMA could have a lot to offer for businesses and tourists alike. It just needs a "can do" attitude and a little creative thinking.
First of all, it is a fact that previous administrations without any type of vision, dedication and competence let the place fall into disarray. However the officials also seem to be afflicted with the "I can't do anything about it disease". There must be close to a hundred failed enterprises that was meant to go up on those old leases which are now just rusted remnants or old buildings, with weeds, all types of debris, fallen down fences and a complete eyesore. I would assume that if the officials cannot invalidate the leases, then the least they can do is ensure that the properties are cleaned up similar to what is expected in the housing areas. Failure to do so should come with fines set to a level which would make it incumbent on the owners to make the proper adjustments. If not, then there very well may be clauses in those leases that would invalidate the lease if the owners do not comply, etc
Tourism is a source of revenue, but somehow I'm not sure that SBMA is ready for that. Tourist want to ride in a tricyle or in a jeepney but there is none allowed. Tourists want to see nice scenery, but they will get an eyeful of all those rusted and falling down buildings. Tourists want to buy a t-shirt from a vendor - nope now. Tourists may want to ride a banca boat or go to a lively night spot. About the best thing going now is the Zoobic safari area, etc. Then there is the problem of how to provide transportation to 1500 people on a regular basis. And if they want to see the local lifestyle, then they cross the bridge into Olongapo and say "what the hell just happened?"
Saturday, April 14, 2012
2 comments:
All comments are posted anonymously. We don't care who you are, we just care about what you have to say. But let's keep it civil. No slander. Talk about issues, not individuals. No racism. Cool it on the profanity. Like Sinatra said, "You don't need to work blue. You'll never play the big houses with that crap."
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I totally agree with you that SBMA should clean up the Freeport Zone. However, it has been in this condition since the beginning and since they are "broke" hard to spend money cleaning it up. However, trikes and jeepneys in the Freeport, get real. One of the main reasons traffic is the way it is outside is the trikes and jeepneys.
ReplyDeleteThe SBMA needs to be proactive and stop daydreaming about what they will do and just do something. If I were to let my house/yard go like some of these commercial tenants have, I am sure that I would have been fined or thrown out in same way. Maybe they could use some type of Fire Hazard excuse, etc... ??
DeleteThe SBMA needs to be running a PR campaign across several forms of media (radio, TV and the internet). I have read in some of your other posts about a SBMA TV channel for keeping up with what's going on locally but I think that they could go further with the other outlets I have mentioned (for residents and non-residents (tourists) alike). There is a website (https://www.clarksubicmarketing.com/) that has a calender for Clark and Subic but is rarely used. Everything here seems to be word of mouth (just like the rest of the Philippines).. They need to be promoting the Freeport for what it is, one of (if not the) safest places to live/work in the Philippines. Their campaign should be promoting CLEAN, GREEN and SAFE. I recently read about a local company within the Freeport building solar panels (http://www.sbma.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=273) and SBMA is looking at implementing this solution (saves $ in the long run). I think that is a step in the right direction but they need to do something (not just study it).
I agree with you that some tourists may find it interesting to ride a Trike or Jeepney but I am against that. I relish the lack of Trikes/Jeepney's in the Freeport (lack of congestion that they create, smoke belching, failure to obey simple rules of the road i.e. the infamous trike Uturn out of nowhere without any signals (hand or electric)).
However, if I was the SBMA, and I were so inclined to allow these vehicles on the base for "tourist" applications I would do it in the following fashion;
1. Create a special SBMA sticker/license for Commercial Operators.
2. Allow a very limited number of these licenses (maybe 20 Jeepneys/40 Trikes??)
3. Impose strict guidelines for said vehicles (no pollution mobiles). Jeepneys would have to be LPG powered and Trikes would have to be 4 stroke. Any huge smoke cloud producers would lose their "Operator License" or "Business License" until the vehicle is operating within the guidelines (fully functioning brakes/lights, turn signals, headlights and lack of smoke).
4. Create a penalty system (similar to the driver's license point system in the States) to address the Chronic Problem children (that can't obey traffic laws/SBMA guidelines and refuse to maintain their vehicles).
5. These vehicles would be restricted from all of the housing areas.
6. These vehicles would only be allowed to stop at designated spots (no stopping at a corner, then driving 20 feet and stopping again).
I think that a banca boat going back/forth between Camayan and the Pier1 area might be a viable idea. But again, you have to promote safety and strict guidelines need to be observed (life vests that actually work, no overloading of boats, etc.).
Bottom line; can the SBMA do a better job? Yes... Will they? most likely not.