GCA Construction News Bulletin September 2012

Guam Contractors’ Association

CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN

always there to protect you from your personal storm

Vol.53 Issue 09 SEPTEMBER2012

CONTENTSSEPTEMBER2012

18

Feature Story

6

Update C ommittee S.A.M.E.

10 14

C ommittee Update Headline C onstruction G4S

18

Story F eature GPA

20

Feature Story

20

Story F eature TakeCare

24 32 34

P hoto Highlights H appenings O n Guard

The Chamorro word for “Joist; beam; stud; scantling” is:

suleras

brought to you by "Learn Chamorro" www.learnchamorro.com

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CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN

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your vision our reality At Hawaiian Rock Products, we are always ready to meet your construction needs. We have a fleet of over 200 construction vehicles and a workforce of over 400 employees. We operate state of the art facilities, strategically located throughout the island with the capacity to fulfill any project size requirements.

Our vast fleet of equipment continues to expand along with the growing needs of the industry. We are here to provide you with the quality products and services you need, when you need them.

2008 Business Laureate

Building The Marianas Since 1958

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THEDIRECTORS

THEEDITORIALS

PRESIDENT James A. Martinez, GCA PAST CHAIRMAN William “Bill” Beery, Tutujan Hill Group CHAIRMAN Robert Salas, Landscape Management Systems VICE CHAIRMAN Tom Anderson, Black Construction SECRETARY/TREASURER Art Chan, Hawaiian Rock CONTRACTORS DIRECTORS: Tom Nielsen, Maeda Pacific Corporation Juno Eun, Core Tech International Mike Venezia, Hensel Phelps John Robertson, AmOrient Louis De Maria, dck pacific guam LLC ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: Patty Lizama, Individual Assurance Company Paul Calvo, Calvo’s Insurance Carlo Leon Guerrero, M80 Office Systems Inc. Ray Yanger, Matson Navigation

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Guam Contractor’s Association (GCA) in conjunction with AdzTech and Public Relations, Inc. publishes the Construction News Bulletin (CNB) monthly. Reproduction of materials appearing in this publication is strictly forbidden without written permission

by GCA. While we always strive for accuracy, we will from time to time overlook mistakes. In order to help us improve the quality and accuracy of this publication, we ask that you take the time to look at the information provided and notify GCA of any corrections as needed. Opinions and editorial content of this publication may not necessarily be those of the publisher, staff, GCA members, GCA Board of Directors and advertisers.

For more information about advertising in the GCA Construction News Bulletin contact the advertising department at (671) 477-1239/2239 or email at adztech@teleguam.net.

Distributed to GCA members or can be obtained by stopping by the Guam Contractors’ Association office located at 718 N. Marine Corps Drive, Suite 203, East West Business Center, Upper Tumon, Guam.

To find out more about how you can become a GCA member contact Guam Contractors’ Association at Tel: (671)647-4840/41 Fax: (671) 647-4866 or Email: gca@teleguam.net.

Postmaster. Send address changes to Guam Contractors’ Association, located at 718 N. Marine Drive Corps Suite 203, East West Business Center, Upper Tumon, Guam.

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THETEAM PUBLISHER: James Martinez SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR: Geri Leon Guerrero AD SALES: Tom Mendiola June Maratita PRODUCTION: Geri Leon Guerrero Christopher “Taco” Rowland Tanya Robinson PHOTOGRAPHERS: Marty Leon Guerrero Christopher “Taco” Rowland EDITOR: Adztech CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: John Robertson David F. Macaluso CPT. Ken Ola GCA STAFF: Francine Arceo Desiree Lizama COVER: Rainy Days of Golf

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S.A.M.E. UPDATE

SEPTEMBER 2012

Society of

TINIAN’S MARINES: UNITING PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

American Military Engineers

Guest speaker at the August meeting of SAME Guam Post was LtCol Aisha Bakkar, USMC MARFORPAC Forward/Marine Corps Activity-Guam. LtCol Bakkar provided an overview of Exercise Geiger Fury which brought Marines to Tinian to practice reviving an abandoned airfield. The exercise was designed to recreate a mission where Marines have to land in a relatively remote area and establish an airfield that can refuel aircraft. Key points are outlined below.

GEIGER FURY 2012 •

Tinian’s Marines: Uniting Past, Present & Future On the ground: 14 May – 8 June First Marine Aircraft Group 12 deployment since Vietnam with 36 F/A -18s Marine Wing Support Squadron 171

• •

CAPT Heckmann presents Guam Post coin to LtCol Bakkar

•

•

Heavy Equipment Deployed by Sea

•

FARP

•

24 Hour Operation: The Basics

•

30 Arrested Landings (10 in less than 60 minutes)

•

Six Landings of C130’s (First landing on Baker Runway since 1947) 1003 Sorties

•

Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units

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S.A.M.E. UPDATE •

Memorial Day Celebration with Local Community

GEIGER FURY CHALLENGES •

– • – – • – – – • • • • • • • • •

Contracting Services Buy local High Speed Vessel Delay May 7th until 14th June 5th until 28th Environmental/ Historic Landmark Moorhens Coral Browntree Snake Prevention Heat / Limited Air-Con Units Commercial Sea Port Condition Commercial Airport Terminal/ FAA Demolitions Timber/ Concrete Trash & Waste Disposal R&R Transportation Cell phone connectivity Mother Nature

TINIAN FUTURE Upcoming Training • September/October • 31st Marine Expeditionary Force Certification Exercise • Guam, Tinian, Palau • Valiant Shield/ Aviation Training Relocation • November/December • Possible Marine Wing Support Squadron Exercise

Prepared by John M Robertson PE, Treasurer of SAME Guam Post – from LtCol Bakkar’s power point.

To join SAME Guam Post, log on to SAME.org and look for “New Members” at upper left of home page www.guamcontractors.org

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GUAM POWER AUTHORITY ATURIDÅT ILEKTRESÅDAT GUAHAN P.O. BOX 2977 • AGANA, GUAM U.S.A. 96932-2977

On Labor Day we celebrate our dedicated GPA employees.

THANK YOU for your efforts in providing strength and prosperity to our island.

Biba GPA!

Minagof Ha'ånen Hotnaleru

COMMITTEEUPDATE

Military, Government and Labor Relations Committee Update – September ‘12

By John M. Robertson Military Spending for FY 2013 The U.S. Congress remains deadlocked on military spending for FY 2013 and beyond.

There will be a Continuing Resolution Agreement in place after 30 September that will allow basic needs to be met at FY 2012 levels and this is expected to continue until the end of March, according to informal agreement between the administration and legislative branches of government. The House Armed Services Committee did agree on their version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) but the Senate Armed Services Committee has not taken action and is not expected to do so until after the election.

Sequestration Defense contractors are bracing for potential sequestration budget cuts that could start next January and slash $500 billion in planned defense spending over the next decade. The reductions, which total $1.2 trillion and include non-defense spending, come as the result of the Budget Control Act of 2011--which says if a super committee of lawmakers failed to craft a deficit-cutting plan (as it did), the across-the-board “sequestration” reductions would start in 2013.

The law calls for the cuts to trim the same percentage from every applicable defense program, project, and activity, though the Obama administration has exempted some parts of the Pentagon budget, including military-personnel funding. This will become reality unless the President and the Congress reach some kind of agreement by years’ end.

This $500 Billion reduction would be on top of the $460 Billion already agreed to by the military. The military has not made provision for this eventuality but common sense would indicate the U.S. military could not maintain the leadership role it now has with such budget restraints.

China Threat Co ntinues U.S. Senator James Webb wrote an

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article for the Wall Street Journal dated 21 August that is reprinted in part hereafter.

“Since World War II, despite the costly flareups in Korea and Vietnam, the United States has proved to be the essential guarantor of stability in the Asian-Pacific region, even as the power cycle shifted from Japan to the Soviet Union and most recently to China.

The benefits of our involvement are one of the great success stories of American and Asian history, providing the so-called second tier countries in the region the opportunity to grow economically and to mature politically.

As the region has grown more prosperous, the sovereignty issues have become more fierce. Over the past two years Japan and China have openly clashed in the Senkaku Islands, east of Taiwan and west of Okinawa, whose administration is internationally recognized to be under Japanese control.

Russia and South Korea have reasserted sovereignty claims against Japan in northern waters. China and Vietnam both claim sovereignty over the Paracel Islands. China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia all claim sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, the site of continuing confrontations between China and the Philippines.

Such disputes involve not only historical pride but also such vital matters as commercial transit, fishing rights, and potentially lucrative mineral leases in the seas that surround the thousands of miles of archipelagos. Nowhere is this growing tension clearer than in the increasingly hostile disputes in the South China Sea. On June 21, China's State Council approved the establishment of a new national prefecture which it named Sansha, with its headquarters on Woody Island in the Paracel Islands. Called Yongxing by the Chinese, Woody Island has no indigenous population and no natural water supply, but it does sport a military-capable runway, a post office, a bank, a grocery store and a hospital. The Paracels are more than 200 miles southeast of Hainan, mainland China's southernmost territory, and due east of Vietnam's central coast. Vietnam adamantly claims sovereignty over the island group, the site of a battle in 1974 when China attacked the Paracels in order to oust soldiers of the former South Vietnamese regime.

The potential conflicts stemming from the creation of this new Chinese prefecture extend well beyond the Paracels. Over the last six weeks the Chinese have further proclaimed that the jurisdiction of Sansha includes not just the Paracel Islands but virtually the entire South China Sea, connecting a series of Chinese territorial claims under one administrative rubric. According to China's official news agency Xinhua, the new prefecture “administers over 200 islets” and “2 million square kilometers of water.”

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These political acts have been matched by military and economic expansion. On July 22, China's Central Military Commission announced that it would deploy a garrison of soldiers to guard the islands in the area.

On July 31, it announced a new policy of "regular combat -readiness patrols" in the South China Sea. And China has now begun offering oil exploration rights in locations recognized by the international community as within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone. For all practical purposes China has unilaterally decided to annex an area that extends eastward from the East Asian mainland as far as the Philippines, and nearly as far south as the Strait of Malacca. China's new "prefecture" is nearly twice as large as the combined land masses of Vietnam, South Korea, Japan and the Philippines. Its "legislators" will directly report to the central government.

American reaction has been muted. The State Department waited until Aug. 3 before expressing official concern over China's "upgrading of its administrative level . . . and establishment of a new military garrison" in the disputed areas. The statement was carefully couched within the context of longstanding policies calling for the resolution of sovereignty issues in accordance with international law and without the use of military force. Even so, the Chinese government responded angrily, warning that State Department officials had "confounded right and wrong, and sent a seriously wrong message." The People's Daily, a quasi-official publication, accused the U.S. of "fanning the flames and provoking division, deliberately creating antagonism with China." Its overseas edition said it was time for the U.S. to "shut up."

In truth, American vacillations have for years emboldened China. U.S. policy with respect to sovereignty issues in Asian-Pacific waters has been that we take no sides, that such matters must be settled peacefully among the parties involved. Smaller, weaker countries have repeatedly called for greater international involvement. China, meanwhile, has insisted that all such issues be resolved bilaterally, which means either never or only under its own terms. Due to China's growing power in the region, by taking no position Washington has by default become an enabler of China's ever more aggressive acts. The U.S., China and all of East Asia have now reached an unavoidable moment of truth. Sovereignty disputes in which parties seek peaceful resolution are one thing; flagrant, belligerent acts are quite another.

How this challenge is addressed will have implications not only for the South China Sea, but also for the stability of East Asia and for the future of U.S.-China relations. History

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teaches us that when unilateral acts of aggression go unanswered, the bad news never gets better with age. Nowhere is this cycle more apparent than in the alternating power shifts in East Asia. As historian Barbara Tuchman noted in her biography of U.S. Army Gen. Joseph Stillwell, it was China's plea for U.S. and League of Nations support that went unanswered following Japan's 1931 invasion of Manchuria, a neglect that "brewed the acid of appeasement that . . . opened the decade of descent to war" in Asia and beyond.

While America's attention is distracted by the presidential campaign, all of East Asia is watching what the U.S. will do about Chinese actions in the South China Sea. They know a test when they see one. They are waiting to see whether America will live up to its uncomfortable but necessary role as the true guarantor of stability in East Asia, or whether the region will again be dominated by belligerence and intimidation.

The Chinese of 1931 understood this threat and lived through the consequences of an international community's failure to address it. The question is whether the China of 2012 truly wishes to resolve issues through acceptable international standards, and whether the America of 2012 has the will and the capacity to insist that this approach is the only path toward stability.”

Secretary Clinton Weighs in While attending the meeting of the “Association of Southeast Asian Nations – ASEAN” in Jakarta in early September, Secretary of State Clinton made the following statement: “The United States does not take a position on competing territorial claims. But we believe the nations of the region should work collaboratively to resolve disputes without coercion, without intimidation and certainly without use of force.” She pushed for the long delayed completion of a code of conduct to settle their differences. While ASEAN and Chinese leaders agreed to a draft of the code a decade ago, it was never completed because of China’s position that disagreements should be settled on a bilateral rather than multilateral basis. Secretary Clinton was scheduled to visit Beijing following the ASEAN conference, where she will discuss the matter with Chinese officials.

China Continues to Develop its Military Capability China dislikes U.S. ballistic missile defense (BMD) developments, existing and potential.

Ballistic missiles have long represented one of China’s greatest military strengths, and it does not want them, or the nuclear weapons that they can deliver, negated. Resigned to the fact that the U.S. cannot be forced to halt development of its missile defense systems or reduce its focus on the Asia-Pacific, Beijing appears to be offering selective reminders that its missile forces are growing too strong

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to contain.

On Thursday 23 August, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. plans to enhance its missile defense systems in the Asia-Pacific. Notably, a day prior to that report, images appeared on Chinese government web portal purporting to show a possible new ICBM, termed the DF-41.

The website cited a U.S. article claiming that China tested the DF-41 on July 24. This may be part of a growing pattern in which Chinese entities engage in selective transparency concerning emerging weapons systems to rally citizens at home and deter potential opponents abroad. Another recent example includes claims in a popular newspaper that a conventional ballistic missile with a range of 2500 miles, sufficient to strike Guam, will be “ready for service” by 2015, and that the carrier-targeting DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) is already deployed. While the first missile’s status cannot be verified, Taiwan’s annual defense report confirms that “a small quantity of” DF-21D ASBMs “were produced and deployed in 2010.” Meanwhile, an article posted on the website of China’s Ministry of National Defense states that the “PLA should foster offensive defense thinking in developing long-range strike weapons.”

These explicit examples and implicit claims of Chinese missile prowess hardly represent paper tigers or empty talk. Building on a foundation of focused missile development since the late 1950s, Beijing is backing these data points up with substantive action.

According to the latest U.S. National Air and Space Intelligence Center report on foreign ballistic and cruise missile capabilities, China is “developing and testing offensive missiles, forming additional missile units, qualitatively upgrading certain missile systems, and developing methods to counter ballistic missile defenses.” The U.S. Department of Defense’s 2010 unclassified report on China’s military states that “China has the most active landbased ballistic and cruise missile program in the world.” While this year’s report was disappointing in its lack of detail, Chinese activities of late have only reinforced the Defense Department’s assessment.

Most distinctive in independent deployment potential and significant in overall capability are China’s nuclear and conventional ballistic missiles, which are controlled by the Second Artillery Force. With armament of the Chinese navy’s three deployed Type 094 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) awaiting final testing of the JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), land-based ballistic missiles are currently the sole delivery system for China’s nuclear weapons. As such, Beijing is determined to ensure their ability to penetrate the defense systems of potential opponents. The goal is to ensure a secure second-strike capability that could survive in the worst of worst-case conflict scenarios, whereby an opponent would not be able to eliminate China’s

COMMITTEEUPDATE nuclear capability by launching a first strike and would therefore face potential retaliation.

As the U.S. Defense Department’s Ballistic Missile Defense Review points out, “China is one of the countries most vocal about U.S. ballistic missile defenses and their strategic implications, and its leaders have expressed concern that such defenses might negate China’s strategic deterrent.” In Beijing’s view, maintaining second strike capability can deter other powerful militaries from pressuring or attacking China in the first place.

In addition to homeland defense, specific roles envisioned for China’s ballistic missiles include preventing Taiwan from pursuing independence, maximizing Chinese leverage in territorial and maritime disputes, and discouraging the U.S. from intervening in regional crises or conflicts stemming from these or other issues.

The foregoing was adapted from a 24 August WSJ article written by Andrew Erickson and Gabe Collins.

In Conclusion U.S. Senator Jim Webb is the principal thinker behind the policy to delay the Realignment of Forces in the Western Pacific. He along with Senators Paul Levin and John McCain managed to block the expenditure of Japanese or U.S. funds for preparations for relocating Marines from Okinawa to Guam.

As leading members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, they also blocked debate on the FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act. It is indeed strange that Senator Webb, knowing what he does about the military and the region, as amplified in his WSJ article, would slow the actions in Guam that must inevitably happen.

Future dealings between the United States and China must follow a diplomatic course. However, for diplomacy to be effective, military strength in the region is of utmost importance and that includes the availability of ground troops – which we believe calls for a Marine Corps base in Guam.

This is election season and we must not forget how rude behavior by some members of our Legislature caused U.S. Senators Webb and Levin to decide Guam might not be a suitable location for the Marine Corps to establish their Western Pacific headquarters. We must remember the Fab Five on election-day. In case there is uncertainty about who they are, here is a hint: Judi, Judy, Rory, Ben and Ben.

The Government and Labor Relations Committee is open to all members of the association. Contact the GCA office for time and place of meetings.

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CONSTRUCTIONHEADLINE

G4S Marianas Aug 14, 2012

Change of Command G4S is pleased announce that after more than 16 years leading the largest private security company in the Marianas, Phil Law has been promoted to Managing Director, G4S Secure Solutions Australia, effective Sept. 1st. Arriving in Guam from the United Kingdom in 1995, Phil established Securewest International , primarily focusing on the hospitality industry. In 2004, Securewest transitioned under the ownership of G4S. G4S also acquired Pacific Security Alarm’s guard

service in 2006; Armored Express in 2008 and Pacific Security Alarm’s systems operations in 2009. With a vision to provide additional business support services to commercial and government agencies, Phil created G4S Business Solutions, G4S Care & Justice Solutions(Marianas) and G4S Facilities Maintenance(Marianas).

All G4S Marianas operations, with 800+ employees, will continue under the leadership of new General Manager, Chris Garde. Since 2004, Chris has served as G4S Security Systems (Philippines) Inc. as General Manager of electronic security systems and was promoted to Vice President for ESS & IT for G4S Philippines in 2008. In 2010, after completing the G4S Global Leadership Training Program in the UK, Chris was assigned to G4S Security Systems (Guam) Inc., as General Manager for Systems Marianas, while concurrently

holding the position as Vice President for ESS & IT, Philippines.

Born in Bacolod City, Philippines, Chris is a graduate of the University of St. La Salle with a degree in Business Management and has 20 years of executive management expertise in Finance & Administration, Marketing, Engineering & Project Management, Business Development and Sales & Marketing Management. Aside from his credentials, Chris is most proud to be a family man, married to his lovely wife Amelia Cereno with 3 children, Danielle, Pamela and Ian. G4S Marianas is equally excited about both Phil’s new adventure in Australia and the leadership Chris will bring to our company. Please join us in congratulating and wishing Phil well in his new role in Australia and also welcoming Chris as the new G4S Marianas General Manager.

You are welcome to send comments to: gm@gu.g4s.com

G4S Secure Solutions (Guam) Tel: 646Ͳ2467/9 Email: guam@gu.g4s.com

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FEATURESTORY

Makes GPA More Efficient

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FEATURESTORY

Improving the islands power quality, reliability and efficiency is Guam Power Authority’s main goal. Over the next five years GPA will complete a number of Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), a total of $145 million worth, needed to improve the islands power and help the agency move into next phase of their master plan. One project was just recently completed early last month (August 3rd). It was a $2.94 million upgrade project to the Agana Substation (located in Mong Mong). This project began in March 2011 with a partnership between GPA and GEMCCO to replace existing outdoor 115 kV and 34.5 kV breakers and to disconnect switches with new equipment.

The upgrades to the substation were scheduled to be done in April, but a month prior to that deadline, thieves stole material worth over two hundred thousand dollars from the construction site. GEMCCO acted quickly and had to change their plans, airship new parts and they still completed the project only a few months past the deadline.

The Guam Police Department is still investigating the theft.

GPA Engineering Supervisor Joven Acosta said, "These old switches and breakers reached their maximum life expectancy and GPA needed to replace them. Some of those switches dated back to the 1950's and other breakers were installed in the early 1970's."

Acosta adds, "Before the upgrades were made at the Agana Substation, it had two breakers underrated at 600 amps and most of the other breakers were rated at 1200 amps, which was near the overload threshold at certain contingencies. As the equipment eventually broke down, the replacement

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parts for the older equipment were more costly to install or some parts were no longer being manufactured. In addition, the failure of the aged equipment was a safety hazard to GPA's employees who worked within the confines of the substation."

“This investment will improve efficiency, power quality and reliability to GPA customers in the central and northern villages,” said Joaquin C. Flores, P.E., GPA General Manager.

“These upgrades are critical as the Hagåtña Substation serves as a bulk substation in the transmission of power from our base load plants in Piti to the central and northern parts of Guam, thereby stabilizing power service in these areas.”

The bulk of the power generated from the islands power plants are routed to four critical substations ( Agana, Harmon, Tamuning and Piti) which carries the workload to North and Central Guam. From these critical substations, the power is then distributed and branched out to less critical substations around the island. The Agana Substation is one of four substations that provide a critical link to the 115 kV system providing power transmission as well as distribution. That's why this upgrade project to the Agana Substation is such an integral part to GPA's master plan.

The upgrades include replacement of old equipment to modern and automated hardware. This includes breakers, potential transformers, disconnect switches, control & relay panels, backup battery systems, perimeter lighting, AC/DC panels, cable trays, and control circuits.

In the past the agency experienced problems with aging disconnection switches

associated with the breakers and also had issues with opening the breakers themselves.

Acosta remembers when a fire broke out in the Agana Substation back in 2004. He said the fire was caused by an explosion to one of its breakers causing an island wide blackout.

That’s why Acosta believed it was so important to have the breakers replaced with updated equipment.

Acosta adds. “If the old equipment remained in place, GPA customers will be subject to emergency outages caused by outdated and inadequate equipment failure."

He compares the vintage equipment to an old car, "As the car begins to break down from all the wear and tear, the owner will constantly need to replace its parts in order to keep the car on the road. This upgrade will boost the substation's reliability and make the GPA’s network more cost and power efficient for its ratepayers, not to mention a safer work environment for its employees."

As a reminder, back in June of 2010, GPA was able to get working capital by selling $205 million dollars of bonds in New York City. About $145 million of those funds were dedicated to flow into capital improvement projects for the generation, transmission and distribution upgrades around the island.

The completion of Agana Substation represents the first of many CIP investmentsscheduled over the next five years. More projects like this upgrade project are underway. GPA Ratepayers can expect a higher level of service with the completion of this project as the agency is better able to plan and execute maintenance work and maintain power quality throughout the island.

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FEATURESTORY

TAKING CARE OF THE GCA

by David F. Macaluso

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FEATURESTORY

Since 2011, TakeCare has been the current and exclusive health insurance provider to the Guam Contractor Association.

In addition to serving members of the GCA, TakeCare has been on Guam for four decades.

For nearly forty years TakeCare has been serving the people of Guam. It all started in 1973 when the Family Health Plan came to our island to provide health care at the request of the island’s Catholic Diocese and GovGuam. By coming to Guam, the Catholic Medical Center transformed into the Family Health Plan, this marked the introduction to the first group practice, prepayment and medical program as a staff model health maintenance organization (HMO) in the Marianas region.

The Family Health Plan changed to FHP in 1987, then it expanded into Saipan and the Northern Marianas. A year later the health center on Saipan began providing medical service to approximately 2,000 members. By 1993 FHP’s total enrollment reached 23,004 members.

By 1997 PacifiCare Health Systems took over the FHP International Corporation, making the PacifiCare Health Systems the nation’s fifth largest HMO company.

Then In 2005, Joseph Husslein, president of PacifiCare Asia Pacific, Don Fetherman, executive vice president, Alicia Iseke, senior vice president and Gus Sablan, senior vice president bought out PacifiCare Health Systems and renamed the organization to TakeCare Insurance Company.

Complementing this company was its full service FHP Medical Clinics on Guam and Saipan. This ensured that this valued health service would remain available in Guam.

As a significant portrayal of good labor and management relations, the TakeCare Managing Partners’ investment and dedication to the company were instrumental in saving 300 jobs that would have been lost when PacifiCare Asia Pacific withdrew from the Guam market.

In 2013, TakeCare will celebrate its 40th

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year providing health insurance and health care delivering services to our island.

According to TakeCare marketing manager Agnes Perez, “We are committed to investing and serving in Guam for the long term and plan to continue for decades to come.”

The secret to TakeCare’s success is their ability to adapt to the market and industry as it changes and their keen sense to understand and offer their members and patients value in a health insurer and health care delivery organization.

“We live and breathe our promise of putting our customer first, to inspire each other to achieve our personal best, to make it easier to do business with us along with our vigorous pursuit of operational excellence,” said Perez. “Our mission is to be your trusted partner delivering health solutions for life.”

TakeCare offers quality, comprehensive and affordable health insurance plans, an unmatched Wellness Program including health education and nutrition classes, a Diabetes Management program, Cardiac Risk Management Program. Children’s Health Improvement Program, Wellness Workshop, Five Days of Fitness and many other services. To learn more details about their programs or additional programs offered please visit www.takecareasia.com.

In addition, TakeCare offers convenient benefits like Consult-A-Doctor, a 24/7 service that connects their members with licensed, local doctors anytime they need their medical advice and TakeCare’s Patient Advocate team situated at the Guam Memorial Hospital who provide personalized member services.

FHP Health Center offers optimal health care delivery options exclusive to their Members including one-stop specialty services including a Cancer Center, ENT services, Dental and Vision Centers, and an Urgent Care center that is open seven days a week.

Perez stated, “TakeCare’s health plans are probably the most comprehensive plans and quality health insurance services around.”

Other things that set TakeCare apart are their years of combined health industry experience, technological resources as well as their unmatched member benefit and services. This includes exclusive access to the FHP Health Center for TakeCare members, their Patient Advocate services that provides personalized members services at the Guam Memorial Hospital for their members, their My TakeCare 24/7 member portal where members can access their member benefits, coverage and eligibility along with details on their claims, among many other features on the web. They have also been the exclusive provider to the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program for over 30 years and have been held to higher regulatory standards than any other insurer in Guam.

TakeCare is the current and exclusive health insurance provider to the Guam Contractor Association. Since 2011, TakeCare and the Guam Contractors Association (GCA) have formed a working partnership to ensure that GCA members receive the best health care services and benefits. In the corporate relations arena, TakeCare has been a major sponsors to GCA’s golf tournament and 5k. TakeCare also participated in their safety conference.

“We appreciates that GCA has chosen us as their exclusive health insurance provider,” said Perez. “We value each and every one of our GCA members and hope to continue to grow and strengthen our partnership with GCA.” Currently there are 700 GCA members, in both public and private organizations, receiving quality services, benefits and plans regardless of the type of work they perform or what industry they are in.

TakeCare is grateful to have established so many long standing relationships with their members, patients, providers and the community as a whole for the past 40 years and look forward to growing these relationships in the future.

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PHOTOHIGHLIGHTS

GCA Luncheon August 15th, 2012 Westin Resort Guam

Fastenal August 30th, 2012 Customer Appreciation

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PHOTOHIGHLIGHTS

20th Annual GCA Family Day Picnic September 9th, 2012 Ypao Beach

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PHOTOHIGHLIGHTS

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PHOTOHIGHLIGHTS

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PHOTOHIGHLIGHTS

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PHOTOHIGHLIGHTS

25th Annual GCA Golf Tournament August 25th, 2012 Leo Palace Golf Resort

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THEHAPPENINGS

Guam Contractors Association

BOWLING LEAGUE Winners of Season 1

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Guam army National Guard

ONGUARD FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GUARNG

30 AUG 2012

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT - CPT KEN OLA W: 735-0409/C: 929-6056 kenneth.ola@ng.army.mil gunatguardpao@yahoo.com

1224TH ESC Helps Improve Vet Cemetery

Needed facility improvements at the Guam Veterans Cemetery in Piti were completed recently by a platoon of Soldiers from the 1224th Engineer Support Company (ESC) of the Guam Army National Guard.

Three projects at the cemetery needed immediate attention based on a request from the Veterans Affairs Office, which oversees the cemetery operations.

The first was a flooding problem near the maintenance shop caused by water runoffs from the hill on top of the cemetery.

Second, part of a hill needed to be “shaved off” to allow more room to set up funeral tents (needed for shades), next to the crypts behind the administration building.

Third, the eroded berms at the ponding basin needed to be reinforced.

The mission was both an opportunity for the unit to use the Soldiers, on their two weeks of annual training, to perform work on projects benefitting the community, as well as receive valuable training on skills where they needed to maintain proficiency.

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A variety of heavy engineering equipment was used by the engineers throughout this period, some of which were new to the unit. The project provided an opportunity for the engineers to gain valuable experience, or “stick time”, operating this newer equipment, according to CPT Mel Pilarca, 1224th ESC commander.

The unit brought with them two of their High Mobility Engineer Excavators (HMEE), a scoop loader, a tractor trailer, and a skid loader “Bobcat”. The HMEE, an armored backhoe loader designed for high speeds to self-deploy with military convoys and which can carry a two-man crew, is the newest equipment in the 1224th ESC’s fleet. The HMEE can be used to clear roads, lay power lines and create obstacles.

The three projects took 10 days to complete, according to Pilarca. Among the challenges the Soldiers had to deal with were the rainy weather which affected the ground, thereby reducing traction for equipment to operate, he added. The tight spaces in between the work sites also tested skills of the heavy equipment

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operators.

“But the engineers were able to maneuver and maximize use of the equipment,” Pilarca said.

Pilarca also praised his Soldiers for a job well done and for how the different teams in the unit worked together to accomplish the mission.

"We were very honored to assist the Veteran's Affairs office and the Veteran's cemetery. I am very proud of the Soldiers that assisted in the completion of this mission to include the admininstration, maintenance, and logistics teams, and, of course, the highly motivated and competent equipment operators.

The Soldiers stepped up to the challenge and proved once again that the Engineers lead the way. Essayons!" Pilarca said.

“Essayons” is the motto of the U.S. Army engineers, which is French for "Let us try."

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