SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — In an effort to boost tourism through watersports, two of the most sought after beach tourism sites in the country have teamed up to hold the Subic Bay to Boracay Race, and the four-day racing quest for the Boracay Cup.

The annual sailboat race is being supported by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the provincial government of Aklan in the hope of boosting the tourism scene of the two areas – Subic Bay Freeport and Boracay. The Subic Bay to Boracay Race and the Boracay Cup Regatta will start on February 24. (Jonas Reyes)

Soil Conditioner

LUCENA CITY — The Rapid Mode of Improving Agricultural Languid (RAMIL) was introduced by applying fulvic acid or soil conditioner for local famers to increase their yield during formal launching at the city agriculture office here Tuesday.

City Councilor Ramil Talaga answered the farmers’ clamor to make their unproductive and dry soil to be useful for rice and vegetables farming.

Talaga believes that a good soil condition can deliver abundance in agriculture production and the fulvic acid, a kind of soil conditioner, can solve the problem on unpleasant soil condition. (Danny Estacio)

Power Industry

VIGAN CITY — House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo R. Tañada III said that the Aquino administration should consider the re-entry to the power generation industry to stimulate a competition, creating a benchmark mechanism that will assign a more realistic price of electricity in the country.

In a statement, Tañada, a member of the Joint Congressional Power Commission, said the price of electricity has become the highest in Asia.

Tañada said government re-entry would provide a mechanism that could address market failures in putting up adequate new capacity and the right generation technology that will assign the lowest possible power cost. (Freddie Lazaro)

Mass Promotion

CAMP EFIGENIO NAVARRO, Oriental Mindoro — More than 1,000 police officers of the MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) Region were promoted after they successfully passed the qualification standards for promotion.

Senior Superintendent Lorenzo Detran Jr., chief of the Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division, disclosed that the newly promoted “Mamang Pulis” and “Aleng Pulis” were part of 2nd semester of 2011 Regular Promotion Program.

Chief Superintendent Artemio Hicban, Police Regional Office 4-B director, led the pinning of ranks for the newly promoted police personnel in a simple ceremony held here on Tuesday. (Ferdinand Castro)

Job Prospect

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Around 5,000 jobseekers braved the long lines outside the Subic Gym here as Harbor Point, Ayala Malls’ newest retail development, opened its doors with employment opportunities for residents of local communities. The two-day job fair, dubbed “Careers at Harbor Point,” offered almost 2,000 job openings ranging from managerial positions to service staff from 70 participating companies to address the mall merchants’ manpower needs.

During the event’s opening program, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) senior deputy administrator for support services Ramon Agregado expressed optimism that the jobs to be generated at Harbor Point would minimize unemployment in the region. Agregado also appealed to the merchants to be good employers. “If you treat your employees with utmost professionalism and care, I’m sure that they will give you your money’s worth,” he said. (Jonas Reyes)