SBMA's 32nd anniversary highlights opening of the upgraded Magsaysay Bridge

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Thursday, (November 21) formally opened the newly-completed Magsaysay Bridge, a vital connection between the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Olongapo City.

The inauguration and blessing of the new Magsaysay Bridge was led by SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, former Senator and SBMA founding Chairman Richard J. Gordon and former SBMA Chairmen Roberto V. Garcia and Rolen C. Paulino, along with SBMA's Board of Directors and local government officials led by Olongapo City Mayor Atty. Rolen Paulino, Jr.

The 72.5-meter multi-span bridge, which replaced the original structure that served the area during the era of the US Navy at the Subic Naval Base, cost P500 million and was realized after Mr. Gordon secured the funding during his second term as senator. 

The opening of the Magsaysay Bridge is the high point of SBMA's 32nd anniversary celebrations. 

It was on November 24, 1992 that the last U.S. Navy helicopter carrier USS Belleau Wood sailed out of Subic Bay, prompting the start of the the conversion of the former military base into a Freeport and Special Economic Zone through Republic Act No. 7227.

Since then, the SBMA has successfully attracted numerous investments, leading to increased job opportunities and enhanced quality of life for its stakeholders.

The anniversary celebration kicked off with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Volunteers’ Shrine in honor of the 8,000 volunteers who took over the facility to preserve and protect the US$8 Billion worth of property left by the Americans during the years of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.



This was followed by a motorcade of SBMA vehicles adorned with red and blue balloons from the Volunteers’ Shrine to Administration Bldg. 229, as well as the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the SBMA and the Inter-Agency Task Force for Maritime Incidents and Emergency Response (IATF – MIER).

The IATF-MIER consists of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, the Philippine Coastguard, Bureau of Customs, and the National Mapping and Resource Information or NAMRIA.

The MOU aims to establish effective procedures and action plans to aid in identifying potential emergencies, provide guidelines for preparedness and response, propose mitigation efforts to minimize environmental impact, and highlight necessary system reviews to ensure the protection of life and property within our navigational waters.

The SBMA likewise signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the donation of security equipment from the United States Embassy.

Day 2 of the Anniversary activities consisted of the fun run that was largely participated in by SBMA officials and employees, while wrapping the festivities off with a special event for seniors in the afternoon. (SNL)