Subic rocks

Following the recent visit of US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. to Subic and the subsequent posthaste “look-see” trip there by top-ranking US Senators Dan Inouye and Thad Cochran, chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Senate appropriations committee, talk is that the Americans might be planning a return to Subic which they left 20 years ago.

Adding fuel to the rumor was Olongapo City Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr.’s trip to the US shortly after the visit of the senators in the country.

Gordon flew to the US for a series of speaking engagements on the invitation of American and Filipino investors.

In fact, mayors from Guam showed up at the Olongapo City Hall last week to get details from Mayor Gordon regarding the issue.

Guam officials are apprehensive the US government might be putting off the plan on the much-touted Guam expansion to accommodate military servicemen and their dependents once the American base in Okinawa, Japan is eased out. The US government is poised to invest $15-billion or P0.7-trillon for the Guam expansion project, but there are speculations it might cancel the plan due to economic constraints in the mainland. journal.com.ph pedxing - dennis fetalino