LIVELIHOOD PRIORITY OF MAYOR BONG
The
promotion of livelihood for Olongapeños is one of the projects that
Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr.
focuses on as part of his “HELPS
Program,” the letter "L" standing for Livelihood and labor.With
the full support of First Lady and Zambales Vice Gov. Anne Marie
Gordon, Mayor Bong Gordon wants to strengthen ‘self-employment’ and
address both unemployment and underemployment, thus the creation of the
Livelihood Cooperative Development Office (LCDO).The projects
of the LCDO includes the ‘Gawang Gapo Product Exhibit’. ‘Gawang Gapo’
provides budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to display and sell
their products at the lobby of the City Hall. In 2009, over sixty (60)
exhibitors availed of the chance to showcase their products.Also,
over one thousand (1,000) residents benefitted from the Livelihood
Skills Training given by the LCDO like fish processing, fruit preserves
making, herbal soap-making, balloon decorating, scented candle making,
fashion accessories making and many others.
“Huwag lamang tayong
umasa na maging empleyado sa mahabang panahon. Kailangan na tayo ang
mag may-ari ng negosyo. “Kahit magsimula muna sa maliit na puhunan
lamang,’’ Mayor Gordon said to the employees of the local government.
Meanwhile,
First Lady Anne Marie Gordon herself directs and monitors the
implementation of the livelihood and self-employment initiatives of
Mayor Gordon to ensure success.
“Karaniwan sa mga dumadalo sa
aming mga trainings ay ang mga maybahay, asawa ng mga OFWs at mga
walang trabaho,” LCDO head Aileen Sanchez said. “Hindi lang basta
skills ang itinuturo namin kundi pati mga tagubilin sa aspetong
administrasyon, operational at pinansyal ng pagne-negosyo,” she said.
Apart
from the skills seminars, the local government also assists Olongapeños
coordinate with banks and other financial institutions for the capital
they need to start up a business.
Mayor Gordon’s livelihood initiatives is expected to continue on through 2010 and thereafter.
MANILA, Philippines—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard have signed an agreement that will bolster maritime safety within the Freeport, in a bid to encourage more investors to locate there.SBMA chair Feliciano Salonga called the agreement timely, considering that

more and more companies have been bringing their ships to Subic, instead of other ports in the country for repair and other services.The Subic Bay area is home to Korean shipbuilder Hanjin, as well as to the shi
p repair facilities of Subic Dock. The Philippine Shipping and Engineering Co. is also undergoing expansion in the area."We will deploy some of our vessels in Subic Bay to assist the SBMA in implementing maritime safety and humanitarian operations within and in contiguous areas of Subic Freeport,'' Coast Guard Commandant Wilfredo Tamayo said.
Source: Inquirer.net
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is clearly on the move to capture a larger share of the growing outbound tourist
market worldwide with its aggressive tourism promotion program and the continuous development of tourism facilities in this free port.
SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said Subic's tourism thrust will be boosted further when the free port hosts the 8th Philippine Incentive Marketing Conference (PIMC) this April.
"This is an event institutionalized in 1994 by the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC), and the Movement of Incentive Travel Executives (MITE) to continually upgrade the standards and quality of services of existing tourism facilities and services in the country," explained Arreza.Figures from the SBMA Tourism Department indicate that the number of foreign and local tourists increased considerably over the last two years. Source: SubiwNewsLink
‘Water Bonsai’, ProudlyY “Gawang Gapo”
Source: SubicBayNews
Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. recently acknowledged before the city government officials and employees Edwin Dela Torre who introduced to the city the ‘Water Bonsai Plant’ technology during the flag raising ceremony held at the Rizal Triangle Multi-Purpose Covered Court.
Dela Torre hails from General Santos in Mindanao and settled in Olongapo in 1989. Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. recently acknowledged before the city government officials and employees Edwin Dela Torre who introduced to the city the ‘Water Bonsai Plant’ technology during the flag raising ceremony held at the Rizal Triangle Multi-Purpose Covered Court.
Dela Torre hails from General Santos in Mindanao and settled in Olongapo in 1989.
“Dati nag-aalaga lang ako, isa, dalawa, natutuwa lang ako na tingnan, nadiscover ko ito noong 2006 . Itong November ay nafeature nga itong Water Bonsai sa ‘Gawang Gapo’ ni Mayor Gordon,” Dela Torre said.
Dela Torre’s ‘Water Bonsai Plant’ was featured at the Gawang Gapo Booth of the city on November 17-21, 2008.
ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda featured Dela Torre’s product on December 4, 2008 where Dela Torre introduced the water bonsai plant to the viewers of the show with program hosts Donita Rose and Edu Manzano.
“Ang ‘Water Bonsai’ ay di lamang simpleng tanim, pwede rin itong gawing decorasyon sa bahay at panregalo sa mga kaibigan,” Dela Torre added.
“Ang kilalang ‘Bonsai Plant’ ay kalimitang tumutubo sa paso, ngunit itong ‘water bonsai’ ay nabubuhay sa pamamagitan ng ‘formulated mineral water’ , kahit hindi maarawan ay tutubo ito sa tubig lamang,” Dela Torre explained.