Subic firms give SBMA excellent rating for Covid-19 response

Subic business locators have given the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) superior grades for its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic since March last year, citing its strict implementation of safety protocols that allowed businesses to continue operation amid the health crisis.

In a series of interview for last week’s State of the Freeport Address (SOFA) by SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, Subic firms gave the agency from 8 to 10 points for its Covid-19 response.

David Reyes, a public relations strategist for the utility firm SubicWater, said he would give SBMA an 8 rating “because SBMA did things very well, relative to other neighboring areas.” He added that one of the things that a lot of locators appreciate about the SBMA was its “effort to adjust to improve.”

Santiago Detal Jr., customer service manager at Subic’s high-end eyewear maker Lindberg, also gave SBMA an 8 mark, pointing out that there were not that many Covid-19 cases in the Freeport. “Not having many cases meant that the SBMA did what needed to be done during the pandemic,” he said.

“Actually, I will rate it as 9 because they really handled it well, especially the protocols during the ECQ,” said Marvin Gangano, HR supervisor for Datian Subic Shoes, Inc., one of the biggest employers in the Subic Freeport today. He pointed out that strict border restrictions in Subic resulted in fewer cases.

For Catherine Stewart, HR and IT manager for Philippine Coastal Storage & Pipeline Corp., the SBMA deserved a grade of 9.5 for handling the Covid-19 challenge “very smartly.”

“It has not been intimidated by anyone, (including) people forcing their authorities over SBMA,” Stewart observed. “It has been confident that it has been following the guidelines of the government, so it has stood its ground to implement what is necessary to protect everyone here.”  

PTT Philippines Trading Corp. president and CEO Danny Alavado, meanwhile, gave the SBMA a perfect score for handling the pandemic. “I think they were able to manage the Covid cases inside the Freeport Zone. There are some pocket outbreaks, but they really did a good job. For me it’s a 10,” he said.

In her report about the state of the Subic Freeport last week, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma recalled that the Covid-19 pandemic “practically crippled Subic’s emerging cruise tourism business” and began to impact the local economy more after a nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 17, 2020.

But even before the lockdown, Eisma said the SBMA was already on top of the situation. As early as January last year, she said the SBMA issued a public health bulletin to warn Subic stakeholders of a viral pneumonia and also formed a task force to plan the agency’s pandemic response.

Among the measures taken by the SBMA to fight Covid-19 were strict implementation of border controls, temperature scanning at Freeport gates and buildings, and regular disinfection of facilities. It also established isolation facilities, and put up a Covid-19 testing center with the Philippine Red Cross.

On the other hand, the SBMA boosted business in Subic amid the pandemic by coming up with a series of relief measures to help companies weather the economic slowdown. It also came up with various online platforms to allow business transactions with the SBMA to continue.

“Let me assure everybody that the SBMA will come out of the Covid-19 pandemic wizened and experienced and more capable in steering the Subic Bay Freeport Zone into a better tomorrow,” Eisma said in her SOFA last Thursday.

As of now, Eisma said the SBMA is teaming up with the private sector for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines for SBMA employees, as well as Subic residents and workers of business locators. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma and Senator Richard Gordon announce the operation of  the SBMA-PRC Covid Laboratory Testing Center in Subic last year.

[2] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma inspects the implementation of safety protocols at a shop in the Subic Bay Freeport.

[3] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma at the SBMA Covid-19 swabbing center.

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State of the Freeport: SBMA reports P3.2-B earnings, 69 new projects despite Covid-19 pandemic

While the Covid-19 pandemic derailed global economic growth, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) reported continuing growth in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in 2020, including P3.2 billion in operating revenue, 69 new investments and expansion projects worth a total of P1.55 billion, and exports of $1.03 billion.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, in her State of the Freeport Address (SOFA) that was streamed online on Thursday, attributed Subic’s remarkable growth last year to sound economic fundamentals and strict adherence to government health protocols.

The SOFA presentation, an annual project of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC), was held virtually this year and broadcast over social media—the first time in 14 years of the group’s existence.

Eisma said that while Covid-19 crippled Subic’s emerging economic niche of cruise tourism, “Subic survived for the most part.”

“The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic did not completely erode the solid business foundation we built over the years. Our sound policies gave us the toughness to weather the storm, while proactive measures to fight Covid-19 gave us the resilience to be able to bounce back after some beatings,” Eisma said in the SOFA.

The SBMA chief then proudly ticked off positive figures recorded in 2020 by the Subic agency in its key measures. Among them are: P3.2 billion in operating revenue and P1.51 billion in operating expense; P9.2 billion in cash and investments; P6.3 billion in other assets; P30.73 million in contribution to the National Treasury; P278 million in remittances to local government units (LGU’s); P131 million in income tax remittance; and P990 million in dividends.

Eisma also noted that the Port of Subic recorded stellar numbers with $1.12 billion in imports and $1.03 billion in exports. The Subic port also recorded 226,000 twenty-footer equivalent units (TEUs) of containerized cargo volume and 7.09 million metric tons of non-containerized cargo last year.

With these, the Port of Subic generated a total of $1.2 billion in revenues last year, while the Subic Bay International Airport earned a total of P62.9 million.

In the tourism sector, Eisma said Subic recorded 5.19 million in visitor arrivals and .29 million in tourist arrivals, while generating P8.48 million from actual tourism activities despite Covid-19 restrictions.

“And even as a lot of sectors were ravaged by the economic downturn, the Subic Bay Freeport welcomed a total of 69 new investment projects,” Eisma also reported. She said the new projects were mostly in the fields of construction, health and wellness, logistics, and information and communication technology.  These new projects yielded total committed investments of P1.39 billion and 682 new jobs.

On the other hand, Eisma announced that existing Subic locators set up 11 expansion projects in 2020. These are in construction, leisure, real estate, logistics, and petroleum trading, and generated a total of P163 million in new investments, as well as 264 additional employment.

She added that despite job losses when some firms closed or cut back manpower during the pandemic, the new projects, particularly in manufacturing, still brought the total Subic Freeport workforce to 138,966 workers, the highest level since Subic Freeport was established in 1992.

“Our experience in the past months of the Covid-19 pandemic tells us that it really pays to keep safe, and that there’s a reason for following rules—not only for our personal physical health, not only for the protection of our loved ones and our community, but also for economic reasons,” Eisma also pointed out. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma announces continuing growth in the Subic Bay Freeport despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in her State of the Freeport Address.

[2] Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce President Benjamin Antonio III presents recognition to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma after her State of the Freeport Address.

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NOTICE TO INTERESTED PROPONENTS - MARSHALLING YARD DEVELOPMENT

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is now offering the Twelve-hectare Marshalling Yard located at the Subic Gateway District, Subic Bay Freeport Zone for lease and development.

Interested proponents are invited to attend an orientation seminar regarding the Marshalling Yard on March 30, 2021, 2:00 PM Philippine Time, via Google Meet.

Interested proponents may now email their attendance confirmation to osda.big@sbma.com (Office of the Senior Deputy Administrator for Business & Investment).

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Subic Freeport hosts ‘bubble’ MPBL championship

Just two weeks after successfully hosting the first beach volleyball battle in the country under a sports bubble set-up, this premier free port is now the venue for the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) playoffs that was stalled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The matches, which will decide the champion in the MPBL Chooks-to-Go Lakan Cup, started today (March 10) at the Subic Gym here with Makati Super Crunch fighting it out with defending champion San Juan Knights for the North division title.

Next week, Basilan Steel and Davao Occidental Tigers will collide for the South division crown, before the national finals start on March 18.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, who welcomed the participants at the Subic Gym, said the MPBL playoffs will further cement Subic’s claim to fame as the nation’s sports bubble capital.

“Subic Bay is out to prove that sports activities, which are essential for our physical and mental health, can still be done despite the limitations of Covid-19,” Eisma said.

“However, let us not forget that we are here because we were able to keep the Subic Bay Freeport safe. And this is not the time to rest,” she added, calling on participants to observe health protocols while in Subic.

Under the sports bubble concept, all the participants—the players, organizers, and technical crew—will have to pass an RT-PCR test, and will be allowed access only to the sports venue and their designated hotels.

Health protocols also forbid the participants from having any interaction with the public, as well as spectators from watching the games inside the venue.

The playoffs will be shown on Channel A2Z.

The MPBL games in Subic took off from the March 11, 2020 games when both the North and South divisions in the league were tied at 1-1.

Organizers said the games did not progress to the championship level since then after the Covid-19 pandemic forced a Luzon-wide lockdown on March 17, 2020.

On the other hand, it took a long time for Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to allow the games to resume because the MPBL, which was founded by Senator Manny Pacquiao, has an amateur status, organizers also said.

The Subic playoffs will determine the winners in the North and South divisions who will then battle in a best-of-five national finals for the MPBL Lakan Cup this season. (MPD-SBMA)

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Safety a priority in Subic ‘bubble’ volleyball tourney

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has stressed safety as top requirement in the ongoing 2021 Gatorade-PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup, a three-day competition that was the first to be held in the country under a “sports bubble” concept.

In welcoming participants and organizers to Subic at the opening of the tourney on Friday, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma reminded everyone to strictly observe health protocols, as required by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), which approved the sports event.

“Please always remember that we are here today because we have kept Subic safe in these pandemic times. We have kept our Covid numbers low with the cooperation of our residents, workers and visitors,” Eisma pointed out.

“We intend to keep it this way,” she added.

Eisma also said that the success of the volleyball tournament “will put Subic in the map as the bubble destination for sports and other events in the Philippines.”

The tournament marked the historic return of the Philippine Superliga (PSL) after 11 months of inactivity.

Organizers meanwhile said there was no reported case of coronavirus infection out of 56 players, coaches and league staff who joined the Subic volleyball bubble.

PSL president Ian Laurel said the PSL is honored to become the first non-professional volleyball tournament to restart its season after securing the IATF nod thorough Resolution 79 dated Oct. 15, 2020.

“We are very happy that volleyball is finally coming back, especially with the help of SBMA and IATF Region 3. Even if there’s a pandemic, with the help of the IATF and the LGU (local government unit), we were able to bring back the sport,” Laurel said.

“We can actually share the message to all leagues that they should not be discouraged. Our athletes should continue their training because there will come a time that tournaments would be allowed with the help of the IATF and the LGU.”

In the first day of the tournament at the Subic sand courts, Sta. Lucia and Abanse Negrense opened their respective campaigns on a high note as they crushed their respective foes. Bang Pineda and Jonah Sabete of Sta. Lucia B showed no sign of rust as they routed Ariane Alarcon and Christina Canares of Kennedy Solar Energy-PetroGazz, 21-10, 21-9, in the opening match of the tourney.

A few hours later, it was the tandem of DM Demontano and Jackie Estoquia of Sta. Lucia B that made its presence felt as they clobbered Jonah San Pedro and Javen Sabas of Toby’s Sports, 21-18, 21-13.

Also victorious was the duo of Alexa Polidario and Erjan Magdato of Abanse Negrense, which crushed Jennymar Senares and Kyla Gallego of F2 Logistics, 21-15, 21-12, to wrap up the morning battles of this competition.

Their counterparts, Jennifer Cosas and Gelimae Villanueva of Abanse Negros B, also pocketed an early victory after dominating Ella Viray and Theresa Ramas of United Auctioneers, Inc., 21-13, 21-12, in Pool B. (MPD-sBMA)

PHOTOS:

The Subic sand courts again saw action on Friday at the opening of the three-day 2021 Gatorade-PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup.

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Subic Freeport posts P1.22-billion new investments in 2020

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the Subic Bay Freeport Zone still attracted new business projects last year, proving that opportunities abound even during challenging times in this competitive investment destination.

According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, a total of 63 new projects were put up by business locators here in 2020, mostly in the fields of construction, health and wellness, logistics, and information and communication technology (ICT).

Said projects yielded total commitment investments amounting to P1.22 billion, and generated a total of 682 new jobs.

On the other hand, expansion projects by existing business locators in the Subic Freeport totaled 16 in 2020, Eisma said. These are concentrated in construction, leisure, real estate, logistics, and petroleum trading.

The expansion projects generated a total of P163 million in new investments, as well as 264 additional employment.

“Apparently, there emerged some winners and some losers in Subic ever since the Covid-19 pandemic drastically changed how business is done globally. But the SBMA has done its best to help the businesses survive,” Eisma said.

She said that of the more than 3,300 companies operating in Subic when the pandemic broke out early last year, a total of 83 had since opted for non-renewal or pre-termination of their contracts with the SBMA.

“As of last month, there are still more than 200 companies that are not operating, including a few which are not yet allowed to operate under Covid-19 restrictions,” Eisma pointed out.

She said that most, or about 70 percent, of these are in the leisure industry, followed by manufacturing with 22 percent, and ICT at six percent.

As a result, a total of 8,129 workers were also affected by the business slowdown, she said. A total of 4,138 workers were put on forced leave; 2,265 were retrenched; and 3,642 entered into work arrangements with irregular work hours.

Eisma said that Subic had since gradually eased down on business restrictions, but with strict compliance of protocols laid down by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

She said that aside from giving business locators various economic relief assistance during the pandemic, the SBMA will continue to be proactive in managing the Covid-19 situation in the Subic Bay Freeport to further stimulate the local economy and generate better benefits for Freeport stakeholders. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma (center) joins the groundbreaking for a two-storey commercial building at the Subic Bay Gateway Park on Jan. 15 with (from right) Subic Bay Development Management Corp. president Willy Wang, Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce president Benjamin Antonio, and Dinalupihan Mayor Ma. Angela Garcia. 

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Subic Freeport to host first ‘bubble’ volleyball playoffs

The country’s first-ever volleyball tournament to be held under the Covid-19 pandemic will happen right here at the sand courts of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Feb. 26-28.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the 2021 Gatorade-PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup organized by Philippine Super Liga (PSL) will be held under a “sports bubble” concept approved under strict guidelines by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

The IATF through Resolution No. 79 issued on Oct. 15, 2020 allowed the PSL volleyball tourney subject to strict observance of, among others, health and safety protocols finalized with the SBMA, the local Regional Task Force Covid-19, and the local Department of Health Center for Health Development.

“Because of this, there will be no spectators to be allowed at the tournament area, and only players and organizers and technical crew will be out there. But the games will be livestreamed on television and online channels,” Eisma said.

“It’s the second-best thing next to a playoff with live audience, and I believe the excitement and intensity of the games won’t be diminished a bit by the restriction,” she added.

Eisma added that under the sports bubble concept, all participants in the tournament, as well as the organizers and technical crew, will be housed in dedicated accommodation facilities and monitored by health and safety personnel. They will have no interaction with the public, she added.

The PSL said a total of eight teams will see action this season at the SBMA sand courts, which served as venue for an exciting beach volleyball meet during the 30th Southeast Asian Games in December 2019.

These are Sta. Lucia, which is billed as the team to beat with veteran beach volley campaigners Bang Pineda and Jonah Sabete, as well as DM Demontano and Jackie Estoquia; guest team Kennedy Solar Energy-PetroGazz, with the tandem of Ariane Luna Alarcon and Christina Canares; and F2 Logistics, with Jenny Mar Senares, Kyla Angela Gallego.

Meanwhile, Chery Tiggo, which will don the colors of United Auctioneers Inc., will join the fray with Ella Viray and Theresa Ramas; Abanse Negrense 1 with Alexa Polidario and Erjan Magdato; Abanse Negrense 2 with Jennifer Cosas and Gelimae Villanueva; and Toby’s Sports with Jonah San Pedro and Javen Sabas.

The tourney sponsored by Cherrylume, Ube Express and Subic Bay Peninsular Hotel, also has Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Data Project and Genius Sports as technical partners.

PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico said this historic tourney will not be possible without the support of the participating teams, as well as IATF, which approved the bubble setup in Subic.

“By becoming the first volleyball league to restart its season in the coronavirus era, we have a very big responsibility to our players, coaches, team owners, the media, and other stakeholders. But rest assured that we will do everything to observe all the necessary health and safety protocols in accordance with the policies of the IATF, the SBMA, and the Department of Health,” Juico added.

Eisma said the PSL volleyball tournament will just be the first in a series of tourism-related events being prepared for implementation in Subic under the bubble setup.

“We are also eyeing basketball events, beauty pageants, and conferences, which would be possible here because of facilities that allow social distancing, the availability of quarantine hotels where event participants can be housed in isolation, and strict adherence by stakeholders to health and safety protocols,” she added.

The Subic Bay Freeport also serves as a crew change hub for international commercial vessels and hosts a corporate jet maintenance bubble at the Subic Bay International Airport. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA Tourism Department personnel prepare the SBMA sand courts on Tuesday for the start of PSL’s 2021 Gatorade-Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup this Friday. 

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Subic Freeport ready for Covid-19 vaccine rollout

Health facilities and personnel in the Subic Bay Freeport are now ready for the eventual release and distribution here of Covid-19 vaccines under the much-awaited mass vaccination program of the government.

This was the assurance given by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma to Department of Health (DOH) officials who observed the simulation of Covid-19 vaccine administration in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone last Thursday, Feb. 18.

Eisma said that ever since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, the SBMA has prepared for any eventuality and has initiated various health measures to fight Covid-19.

“We don’t want to get caught empty-handed,” Eisma stressed. “With the anticipated arrival of Covid-19 vaccines, the medical team of the SBMA is all prepped up and ready for the vaccination program. We shall be prepared when it happens,” Eisma said.

The SBMA chief said the agency is closely coordinating with the DOH for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines and their immediate deployment for the Freeport community.

“But since the SBMA is not a local government unit (LGU), we are looking at various ways to gain access to vaccines, including a partnership with the Philippine Red Cross, or even private companies,” Eisma said.

She added that the agency would be prioritizing frontline health workers for the vaccination, along with senior citizens, indigent population, and law enforcement/uniformed personnel.

Should the vaccines finally arrive, Eisma said the SBMA could field a vaccination team that would consist of five doctors, 20 nurses, and two medical technologists.

The Philippine government, through a coordinated network of stakeholders recently conducted a full-scale simulation exercise of vaccine deployment to showcase the country’s readiness for the mass vaccination program. The simulation provided a view on what is expected to happen once the vaccines arrive in the country.

Dr. Jessie Fantone, DOH provincial director for Zambales who was here to review the Subic simulation, commended the SBMA for adhering to the DOH strategy in the fight against Covid-19, which is Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat, and Reintegrate (PDITR).

The SBMA Public Health and Safety Department (PHSD) demonstrated to the five steps in the administration of the vaccine. These are registration; pre-vaccination counselling and final consent; screening; vaccination; and post-vaccination monitoring, surveillance, and recording.

Chairman Eisma also pointed out that the SBMA has been at the forefront in the battle against Covid-19 since Covid-19 broke out in early 2020. Aside from its medical team, the Subic agency has established Covid-19 isolation and monitoring facilities and partnered with the Philippine Red Cross in putting up a swabbing center and specimen collection facility.

As of now, only one Covid-19 case remains active in the Subic Bay Freeport—that of a transient worker who tested positive last Feb. 10. Eisma said the last reported case among residents of Subic Freeport was in Dec. 24 while that among SBMA employees was in Feb. 5. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

[1] Dr. Arlene Cesa of the SBMA Health and Safety Department gives a briefing on the Covid-19 vaccination program during the mass vaccination simulation at the Subic Bay Freeport on Feb. 18. In the audience are SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, DOH-Zambales Provincial Director Jessie Fantone, SBMA Deputy Administrator for Health and Safety Ronnie Yambao, and Subic Freeport health frontline workers.

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New Subic Freeport Expressway now open

The 8.2-kilometer expansion project for the Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) that was designed to provide better, faster and safer access to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone was formally opened on Friday, Feb. 19, by the project developer and high-ranking government officials.

The project, which began in July 2019, was inaugurated by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma, Metro Pacific Investment Corporation (MPIC) President Jose Ma. Lim, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) President Rodrigo Franco, and NLEX Corp President J. Luigi Bautista.

Bataan 2nd District Representative Joet Garcia, Hermosa, Bataan Mayor Jopet Inton, and MPTC spokesperson Romulo Quimbo Jr. were also present in the occasion.

The expressway project, which was touted to further accelerate economic growth in the Subic Bay Freeport and surrounding communities, was built at a cost of P1.6 billion.

Chairman Eisma, who welcomed guests in the inauguration rites, acknowledged the heavy support of the national government in Subic’s development as a premier investment and tourism center and said that the project is another testament of President Duterte’s “strong support and love for the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.”

Eisma thanked Medialdea and the other top officials in the Duterte Cabinet for further pushing development here.

She also requested support for a proposed interchange that will benefit three industrial parks at the Tipo area, pointing out that these industrial projects signal the continued trust of foreign investors in the Philippines under the Duterte administration.

The SFEX capacity expansion project entailed the construction of two additional expressway lanes, two new bridges at Jadjad and Argonaut Road, and a new two-pane tunnel.

NLEX Corporation President Bautista said this will increase road capacity from one lane in each direction to two lanes in each direction, and thus will accelerate business activities and facilitate the flow of goods and services in and out of Subic.

“One of the key drivers of economic growth is a network of high-quality roads. The NLEX Corporation through NLEX, SCTEX, and the soon-to-be expanded SFEX not only intends to accelerate development, but also hopes to encourage travel convenience and road safety,” Bautista added.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque described the SFEX expansion as one of the key projects under President Duterte’s Build-Build-Build program and a testament that, under the Duterte Administration, the government is working non-stop to provide essential services to the people.

Thanking the MPTC for initiating the project, Roque said the SFEX expansion has significantly hastened travel from Manila to the Subic Freeport and provided motorists an alternative and faster route in and out of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The SFEX, which is also known as the Subic-Tipo Expressway or NLEX Segment 7, connects the Subic Bay Freeport to the 94-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), which in turn links with the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] An NLEX Corporation bus breaks the ceremonial ribbon during the formal opening of the newly completed 8.2-km Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) on Friday, Feb. 19.

[2] Top-ranking government officials led by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, and SBMA Chairman Wilma Eisma headlined the opening of the newly completed 8.2-km Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) on Friday, Feb. 19.

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Globally-renowned Subic food firm thrives after pandemic losses

Difficult times provide new opportunities to those who persevere. This in a gist is the story of Subic Superfood Inc., which manufactures and exports gourmet pili nuts from its factory here in Subic.

During a visit of the factory by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma on Tuesday, brother-entrepreneurs Steve and James Costello shared how Superfood, which sells products under the Mount Mayon brand, survived the Covid-19 pandemic and now plan to thrive in the years ahead.

“We are looking at possibly having our best year ever in 2021, and again in 2022 by the way the projections look. So, we’re quite excited, we got other things stirring up,” James Costello said.

“This is great news for Subic, which just goes to show that our response to the pandemic—the strict compliance to health and safety protocols, all the relief measures given to business locators, and the cooperation by stakeholders have resulted in a climate that is more favorable to economic recovery,” Eisma said.

“The truth is that even as some companies have been adversely affected by Covid-19, Subic Freeport also recorded new investment projects and even expansion by existing businesses,” she added.

According to the Costello brothers, who are both trained biochemists, the company adopted the motto “Survive and Thrive” last year at the onset of the pandemic. Now they have retained it as theme for 2021.

Steve explained that Superfood’s sales suffered during the pandemic when the firm’s biggest markets—Duty Free Philippines (DFP) in Manila and casinos and hotels in Macau—stopped placing orders. DFP used to account for 30 percent of Superfood’s income, while the Macau importers 20 percent.

Because of plunging sales, their partners in Hong Kong told the brothers to shut the Subic facility down. But they refused, and re-analyzed the market instead.

“James and I said, can we look at some markets that might be opening? And one of the biggest ones was online retailer. So, we talked to Healthy Options in Manila, which was one of our great accounts,” Steve recalled.

At the moment, they noted that Healthy Options was expanding. “We said, ‘Guys, you got to go online.’ They went online and they put us in all their stores. And we realized, boom! We exploded with them,” Steve said.

Aside from this, Subic Superfood also tried other cost-cutting measures upon seeing that there was still a lot of nuts in the warehouse. The brothers sold them at “buy-one-get-one” option, then cut about half of the staff and stayed with the regular team, and then came up with two 40-foot container of nuts going to Oregon.

“What’s important is keeping flexible and finding new ways to do things,” Steve stressed.

Subic Superfood, Inc. began to process pili nuts from Bicol into gourmet snacks in 2008. The firm has five flavors: Himalayan Pink Salt, Kyoto Matcha, Ecuadorian Cocoa, Chiang Mai Chilli Lime, and Kerala Coconut Curry.  

The Subic firm has won multiple awards for these products, including the “Snacking Dior” award in Paris, France in April 2018 for the Himalayan Pink Salt flavor, and a three-star Michelin award and Supreme Taste award from the International Taste and Quality Institute in Brussels, Belgium for the Kyoto Matcha flavor.

In September 2018, Subic Superfood got a two-star Michelin award for the Himalayan Pink Salt flavor, and three stars for the Ecuadorian Cocoa flavor. It also received the Best Foreign Entry and the grand award of Supreme Champion for the Great Taste award out of 12,561 entries.

In 2019, the company again received Great Taste Awards for its Kyoto Matcha Premium Pili Nuts, Kerala Coconut Curry, and Natural Pili Butter. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

[1] Steve Costello (right) shows SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma and SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Renato Lee the company’s pili nut products for market delivery. 

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SBMA earnings dip by 22% under Covid-19 pandemic

Earnings by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) decreased by as much as 22 percent in 2020 because of the economic slowdown last year brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the Subic agency posted a total of P1.69-billion in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) at the end of 2020, compared to the P2.17 billion figure it recorded at the end of 2019.

The 2020 figure was lower than the 2019 record by P486.73 million, or 22.35 percent.

Eisma said the Covid-19 pandemic affected not only the operations of business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport, but also those of the SBMA, which is a self-sustaining government-owned agency.

“Subic locked down for close to four months early last year because of Covid-19. That means factories were closed, stores were closed, and there was not much source of income to go around. Moreover, the SBMA was forced to forego much of its collections in the meantime, because there was hardly anything to collect,” Eisma recalled.

She added the economic slowdown “critically diminished the income-generating capacity of registered businesses and sent ripples of disruption across the Freeport that affected even the SBMA income.”

According to the 2020 consolidated year-end report from the SBMA Finance Group, the agency lost P530.31 million in operating revenue last year, whereas it raked in a total of P3.73 billion in 2019.

In terms of operating expenses, meanwhile, the agency was able to save P67.74 million in 2020, as it spent only P1.45 billion, which was 4.45 percent lower than its expenses of P1.52 billion in 2019.

The SBMA Finance Group also reported that the agency’s operating income in 2020 hit only P1.75 billion, which was 20.93 percent lower than the P2.21 billion in 2019, or a difference of P462.56 million.

On the other hand, the agency posted higher bad debts last year— from P32.09 million in 2019 to P56.26 million in 2020, or an increase of 75.3 percent.

Eisma said the agency expects its finances to somehow bounce back this year, as more Freeport firms increase operations under strict health safety protocols imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

Last month, the SBMA approved the Economic Relief Assistance (ERA) Payment Scheme that gave Subic locators up to 36 months to amortize bills that remained unpaid since the pandemic hit in March 2020.

Eisma said the measure was intended to help Subic businesses get back on their feet.

“We are now trying to open up the economy here little by little to curtail the lingering impact of the pandemic, and we’re giving every opportunity for our locators to normalize operations,” Eisma said. 

“I am wishing for bigger (financial) numbers this year, and we are getting back on track every little step that we can take forward, that’s why we always stress that we maintain safety protocols so we can get more industry sectors up and running,” Eisma pointed out.

The SBMA chief is scheduled to give her State of the Freeport Address next month to provide a more comprehensive report on the 2020 accomplishments of the agency and its plans for this year. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma meets with members of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 3 to discuss 2021 plans and programs, as well as business concerns and protocols under the continuing Covid-19 pandemic. 

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Covid-19 saliva test now available at Subic Freeport

The saliva test, a more comfortable and affordable alternative to the nasal swabbing method for Covid-19 testing, is now available at the Subic Bay Freeport under a joint project of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the PRC on Monday (Feb. 8) opened a saliva collection facility at the PRC-SBMA Covid-19 Testing Center near the Subic Bay Freeport main gate for its Saliva-Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (Saliva RT-PCR) testing program.

The Red Cross rolled out the saliva testing program in Manila late last month following approval by the Department of Health (DOH) of the use of saliva as an alternative specimen for RT-PCR testing.

“It’s just like the nasopharyngeal swabbing procedure in terms of efficacy because it uses the same system, which is the RT-PCR,” Eisma explained during the project launch.

“But while others find the nasopharyngeal swabbing somewhat painful, this one is not because it’s non-invasive. To top it all, it’s way cheaper than the swab test,” she added.

The saliva test, which is touted to be a quick and safe alternative for diagnosing Covid-19 infections, requires patients to spit through a tube into a small specimen collection container. About 1-2 mL of saliva is needed for testing.

The procedure is also said to be safer because there is less risk of exposure between the patients and the health care workers collecting the samples.

Moreover, processing of the sample in the testing machine takes less time, thus allowing for the release of test results in about 6 to 12 hours, the PRC said.

The PRC also noted that the saliva test costs from P1,500 to P2,000 and has an accuracy rate of 98.23%, while the nasal swab test, which is 99% accurate, costs from P3,800 to P5,000.

To date, only the Red Cross saliva RT-PCR test to date has been approved by the DOH as a saliva-based testing method to detect Covid-19 infections, the PRC added.

SBMA Deputy Administrator for Health and Safety Ronnie Yambao said there are now two booths dedicated for saliva testing at PRC-SBMA Covid-19 Testing Center, although the testing facility would continue to accommodate those who would prefer the nasopharyngeal swabbing procedure.

Those who want to take the saliva test here should deposit a P2,000 payment to the Philippine Red Cross account number 0132062464009 at Security Bank in Mandaluyong EDSA, and then email proof of payment and details of the person who will get tested to saliva.olongapo@redcross.org.ph.

In response, the Red Cross will email an online registration link for the customer to get the Retrieval Code, which must be presented to at the PRC-SBMA Covid-19 Testing Center in order to proceed with the collection of saliva specimen. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

Emergency Medical Services staff Marcelo Macariola demonstrates the collection of saliva specimen for testing during the launch of the saliva testing facility in Subic on Monday. Also in photo are SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, PRC-Olongapo Administrator Vilma T. Feji, and SBMA Deputy Administrator for Health and Safety Ronnie Yambao.

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SBMA gets 3 top-of-the-line firetrucks

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has acquired Pierce firetrucks to augment the firefighting capability of its Fire Department, becoming the first in the Philippines to own and operate this kind of custom-built fire engines.

The new acquisitions consisted of top-of-the-line Pierce pumper trucks that were bundled with various firefighting equipment, as well as self-contained breathing apparatus, HAZMAT suits, and repair kits for all types of gas leaks.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the procurement of new fire engines for the Fire Department indicated how serious the SBMA is in keeping people and investments safe in Subic.

“This is our legacy; this is something we need to do for Subic, especially now in these times of a pandemic,” Eisma stressed here on Friday during the blessing of the new equipment.

“We would like to showcase Subic as a safe haven for tourists, as a safe haven for investments, and now as a haven safe from fire,” she added.

SBMA Fire Chief Ranny Magno said the brand-new firetrucks were imported directly from Pierce Manufacturing, the Wisconsin, USA-based manufacturer of custom fire and rescue apparatus which is recognized as the largest producer of firefighting apparatus in the world.

Each truck has a capacity of 1,000 gallons (3,785 liters) of water and 60 gallons (227 liters) of foam, and runs with Cummins ISL9 engine at the top speed of 60 MPH (96 KPH).

To complement their pumping capability, each fire truck has Class A Type water pumps that can deliver “waterous” supply of water or foam from 100% rated capacity at 150 psi net pump pressure, to 50% of rated capacity at 250 psi net pump pressure.

The structural-industrial pumper trucks operate on digital technology and meet and comply with international standards set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Magno added.

The new fire engines arrived from the United States last December 28.

Magno noted that to this day, only the SBMA Fire Department has this kind of custom-built structural/industrial firetruck in the country, a big boost to a firefighting unit that also assists in firefighting operations in communities around the Subic Bay Freeport.

“These would make our job easier and allow us to respond more efficiently and effectively 24/7,” Magno added. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] An SBMA fireman demonstrates water delivery from one of the new firetrucks, as SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma and other officials look on. 

[2] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma (right) and other SBMA officials inspect firefighting tools that were bundled with the new Pierce firetrucks.

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Subic develops corporate jet maintenance ‘bubble’

Intending to capitalize on Subic’s health safety record as an international gateway, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has developed an end-to-end platform that will deliver corporate jet maintenance service despite the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the “Corporate Jet Maintenance Bubble” (CJMB) will be located at the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA), which also houses a crew-change hub for mariners that is being operated by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

“The corporate jet maintenance bubble works with roughly the same concept—it will be a complete process that precludes any third-party engagement because the accommodations, amenities and services are all in one place, and everything stays isolated,” Eisma explained.

She said the SBMA recognized the financial pressure faced by the aviation industry and had developed the CJMB to provide a safe, seamless, and efficient mechanism that will enable business jet operators in the Asia-Pacific region to meet their maintenance needs here in the Philippines despite the Covid-19 crisis.

Eisma said the CJMB was developed in accordance with Resolution No. 84 of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), which authorized the SBMA to set up a corporate jet flight maintenance and crew layover hub at the Subic Freeport under a strict “bubble” concept, as recommended by the DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

“With this project, we can also generate income for the Subic airport and once more push its potential as a regional aviation hub,” Eisma added.

Under the bubble concept, business jets may come into Subic for maintenance work without the limiting restrictions currently being implemented at other local airports.

The end-to-end process was carefully tailored to ensure a level of safety that would meet existing guidelines from regulatory agencies like CAAP, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA), as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Health (DOH), and the IATF.

Significantly, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced the lifting of travel restrictions on the 36 countries with reported cases of the new Covid-19 variants starting February 1, following a directive from the IATF.

Eisma said the SBMA “will strive to continuously work with the IATF, BI, DOTr and other stakeholders to ensure transparency and commitment to safety while facilitating the safe positioning of flights and their respective crew to and from Subic.”

The SBMA had approved an aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at the Subic airport as early as August 2019, giving services provider Aviation Concepts Technical Services Inc. (ACTSI) its go-ahead for the full development of the local airport as a 24/7 hub for business aviation.

The SBMA had since marketed SBIA for its strategic location, it being only 1.5 hours away from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan and just 3 hours away from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

The SBMA has also stressed the wealth of manpower talent and cost-effectiveness as some of the major advantages of doing business in Subic over other areas. (MPD-SBMA)

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