SBMA releases ₱218-M revenue shares to contiguous LGUs

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) released a total of ₱218,115,671.26 in revenue shares to eight local government units (LGUs) contiguous to this premier freeport zone.

 

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said that this amount released on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, represents the revenue shares for the first semester of 2026, which is 10.24 percent higher than that of last year’s comparative period. 

 

The recipient LGUs are Olongapo City, the municipalities of Subic, San Marcelino, Castillejos, and San Antonio in Zambales, and the towns of Dinalupihan, Hermosa, and Morong in Bataan.

 

Taking into account the population and land area, Olongapo was allocated the largest amount of ₱50,420,165.72, received by Olongapo City Mayor Atty. Rolen Paulino, Jr.

This was followed by Subic, Zambales, which received ₱32,871,521.46, accepted on behalf of Mayor Jonathan John Khonghun.

 

The remaining LGUs received their allocations as follows: Dinalupihan, Bataan, with ₱27,438,313.68, accepted on behalf of Mayor German Santos, Jr.; San Marcelino, Zambales, with ₱26,272,445.97, received by Mayor Elvis Soria; Hermosa, Bataan, with ₱23,422,520.27, accepted on behalf of Mayor Atty. Anne Adorable-Inton; Castillejos, Zambales, with ₱19,817,470.23, received on behalf of Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun; Morong, Bataan, with ₱19,340,287.10, received on behalf of Mayor Leila Linao-Muñoz; and San Antonio, Zambales, with ₱18,532,946.83, received by Mayor Dr. Arvin Antipolo.

The LGU shares are sourced from five percent corporate taxes paid by business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport. They are distributed among LGUs based on population (50%), land area (25%), and equal sharing (25%).

OIC-Deputy Administrator for Finance Editha Marzal, along with the finance team, led the distribution of the LGU shares.

 

Marzal noted that the net shares distributed to the LGUs include not only the current collection period’s allocations but also the 10 percent retention withheld during the first semester of the 2024 distribution.

 

According to Republic Act No. 9400, which amends RA 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, the SBMA is mandated to allocate two percent out of the five percent of gross income earned to LGU shares. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA supports DepEd, Sanyo Denki partnership to train SHS graduates

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) expressed its full support for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) initiative to send senior high school (SHS) graduates for training with Sanyo Denki Philippines, Inc. (SDP).

Called the “Building Bridges Together from Enrollment to Employment” initiative, DepEd Regional Office 3 and the SDP signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the company’s building on May 4, 2026, witnessed by the SBMA.

SDP President Kenji Yanagisawa and DepEd Assistant Regional Director Jessie L. Amin signed the MOA, which was also witnessed by SDP Division Manager Cynthia Renion, and other SDO officials from Central Luzon.

SBMA Chief of Staff Atty. Von Rodriguez, who attended on behalf of SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, said the initiative is part of DepEd Regional Office 3’s program to align educational outcomes with industry standards through strategic collaborations with the private sector.

“With this initiative, DepEd plans to enhance the workforce transition and employability of SHS graduates, starting with 120 students from the Schools Division Offices (SDO) of Bataan, Zambales, and Olongapo City,” Rodriguez said. 

This will expand to SDOs in Tarlac, Angeles City, and Mabalacat City.

Meanwhile, Yanagisawa said that people are the source of sustainable growth. He stressed the need to align education programs with employment demands, urged students to utilize the initiative, and extended his appreciation to DepEd and the stakeholders.

Amin expressed support for the partnership as it indicates a commitment to secure the future of the learners.

“Our greatest gift to humanity is our kindness to our children,” Amin said, adding that companies currently seek three qualifications: technical competence, technological skill, and soft skills, highlighting the latter as the priority.

The “Building Bridges Together from Enrollment to Employment” initiative aims to elevate SHS “exit points” by ensuring learners possess the specific skills and competencies required by modern employers.

Central Luzon is currently experiencing a robust labor market, characterized by high employment rates and a strategic shift towards higher-value industry and services sector jobs, necessitating a tighter match between worker skills and industrial demands.

In this region, SHS graduates demonstrate high foundational literacy, yet they face significant challenges in direct labor market entry due to a persistent job-skills mismatch. While the region achieved the highest basic literacy rate in the country at 92.8% as of 2024, only a small fraction of SHS graduates successfully transition into the workforce. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA turns over worn-out flags for proper disposal in Bataan

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) turned over its worn-out flags, which have been hoisted in front of the administration building over the years, for proper disposal in Mariveles, Bataan.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño led the turnover of these national symbols to Alion Barangay Captain Vicielito Balan during a simple ceremony held at the Chairman’s Office in Subic Freeport on March 4, 2026.

According to Aliño, the Sangguniang Barangay of Alion wrote a letter to the SBMA, requesting that the agency donate its tattered, faded, or worn-out Philippine flags for inclusion in the burning ceremony.

During the1st Regular Session of the Sangguniang Barangay (SB) of Alion on January 5, the SB passed a resolution for the proper disposal of tattered or worn-out Philippine flags. The said flag disposal program will be held on March 13 at the Flag Disposal Site inside the Alion Barangay Hall Compound.

The program aligns with the flag disposal rites of the Boys Scouts and Girls Scouts of the Philippines,  Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police.

The ashes of the disposed flags will be placed in an urn to be laid to rest in a memorial site especially provided and made for them.

The said disposal site complies with Republic Act No. 8491, otherwise known as the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines,” which stipulates that reverence and respect shall be accorded to the flags, the anthem, and other national symbols.

Located along Waterfront Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, the SBMA flagpole, where these flags are hoisted, boasts of a rich historical symbolism, as it witnessed the epic transition of Subic Bay from a U.S. naval base to a Philippine-led economic zone.

The flagpole stands at 120 feet, symbolizing a total of 94 years of foreign military presence in Subic, the 18 heads of state who attended the 1996 Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) in Subic, and the eight thousand volunteers who protected and preserved the base facilities after the U.S. Navy withdrew in 1992.

The Philippine flag in Subic Bay Freeport, hoisted permanently in compliance with RA 8491, is one of the largest in the country, measuring 44 feet long and 22 feet wide. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

Subic 2025 workforce pegged at 170K-strong; up by 4.4%

The workforce in the country's premier Freeport totaled 171,653 in 2025, according to the annual report by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).  

According to a report from the SBMA Labor Department, this figure reflects a 4.4 percent increase from last year's 164,400 recorded in 2024.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said that the increase in the number of workers here results from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s mandate to provide more employment opportunities for Filipinos.

He said that Olongapo City remains the biggest source of manpower, with 70,769 residents working here. He added that this was followed by Zambales with 31,621; Bataan with 22,897; National Capital Region with 7,077; Pampanga with 5,492; Tarlac with 2,199; and the remaining 31,598 from other parts of the country, including foreign workers.

Around 70.60 percent of workers, or 121,187, are male, while the remaining 29.40 percent, or 50,466 workers, are female, and employed by 4,744 Subic companies. 

Despite the disparity, female workers outnumbered male workers in the manufacturing sector, with 18,951 females and 18,242 males employed across 111 manufacturing companies in Subic.

Meanwhile, the Subic Bay Freeport’s services sector remains the biggest employer, which clocked at 67.32 percent of the workforce, with the manufacturing sector making up 21.67 percent. These are followed by the construction sector with 7.36 percent, and shipbuilding/marine-related services with 3.64 percent.

Aliño added that the services sector also has the biggest number of companies, with 4,129, followed by the construction sector with 356 companies, then shipbuilding/ marine-related services with 148 companies, and lastly the manufacturing sector with 111 companies.

He further said that more companies are still looking for employees, thru the SBMA Labor Department's regular conduct of job fairs and posting job openings via online portals and bulletin boards at their offices near the Subic Bay Gym.

“Jobseekers can click on the SBMA Career Portal, where we provide an official list of vacancies from various Freeport locators. We encourage applicants to check the Subic Gym bulletin board for scheduled examinations and interviews,” he said.

For further information, Aliño advised job seekers to browse the SBMA official website mysubicbay.com.ph, and look for the “Jobs For You” section. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA releases ₱158.9M revenue shares to contiguous LGUs

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is set to release a total of ₱158.9 million to its eight contiguous local government units (LGUs) as their revenue share for the second semester of 2025. 

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said that the current amount for release surpassed ₱143.17 million released during the same period last year, by 10.99%. 

The revenue shares, Aliño explained, are determined according to 50% population, 25% land area, and 25% equal sharing. 

Olongapo City remained the LGU with the highest share of ₱36.73 million; followed by Subic, Zambales, with ₱23.95 million; then Dinalupihan, Bataan with ₱19.99 million; San Marcelino, Zambales with ₱19.14 million; Hermosa, Bataan with ₱17.06 million; San Antonio, Zambales with ₱13.5 million; Castillejos, Zambales with ₱14.44 million; and Morong, Bataan with ₱14.09 million. 

Aliño added that these shares are extended to contiguous LGUs to augment their funds for calamities, health and safety, peace and order, livelihood generation, education, tourism, infrastructure, and social services. 

In August 2025, the SBMA released a total of ₱197.85 million as revenue shares for the first semester. In total, the agency released ₱356.74 million for the 2025 LGU shares. 

The LGU shares are derived from the five-percent taxes paid by business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport and are collected from January to June for the first semester, and July to December for the second semester. 

LGU shares are released in August and February the following year, respectively. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

Subic Freeport, Hermosa to be interlinked in proposed Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas Railway Project

Subic Bay Freeport, along with Hermosa, Bataan, is being considered for interlinkage with the proposed Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) Railway Project.  

In a meeting at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) corporate boardroom early this month, the SCMB Technical Working Group met with key officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTR) and The Cadmus Group, as well as Hermosa Mayor Anne Adorable-Inton.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie Yambao said that the meeting focused on the creation of an eight-kilometre access road spanning from Hermosa to Subic Freeport’s Naval Supply Depot through two bridges. The access road would cost ₱ 1.8 billion.

The group also discussed the protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities and their compensation packages. They also reviewed the logistics terminal between Hermosa and SBFZ, as well as trade volume, port statistics, and the alignment of the logistics roadmap and bypass road from SBFZ to Hermosa.

The SCMB Railway Project is a planned 250-kilometre freight railway project connecting four major economic hubs in Luzon, intending to decongest Manila's port and improve logistics. 

The project is in the development stage, with a feasibility study being jointly undertaken by the United States, Sweden, and the Asian Development Bank, with technical assistance being provided by the US Trade and Development Agency.

The said SCMB Railway Project will link the Port of Subic, Clark International Airport, the Port of Manila, and the Port of Batangas, primarily aiming to serve as a freight cargo railway to ease congestion at the Port of Manila by ensuring the timely movement of products.

The said project is part of the broader Luzon Economic Corridor Initiative, and is intended to drive investment and economic growth. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

LGUs contiguous to SBF receive ₱197.85M revenue shares

Local government units (LGUs) contiguous to this premier freeport received their revenue shares worth Php197.85 million.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) released today the revenue shares for the first semester of this year in a simple turnover ceremony at the SBMA Corporate Boardroom.

“Rest assured that we will do our best to make progress in the Freeport so that our neighboring LGU partners will also benefit, including the 166,000 Freeport workers who chose to work here instead of working abroad,” SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said.

According to Aliño, for the current period, the shares came from revenues collected between January and June this year, and are given to contiguous LGUs to augment funds for their projects in tourism, infrastructure, education, peace and order, health, livelihood generation, and social services that will benefit more than 785,000 individuals from their respective LGUs, especially households who have been severely affected by the recent calamities.

Olongapo City, the lone recipient city, received the largest share due to its population and land area among the seven LGU recipients, which is Php46,270,769.33.

In Zambales, Subic received Php29,683,317.56, the second biggest amount received. Next is San Marcelino with Php23,763,694.31, while Castillejos received Php17,987,887.14, and San Antonio received Php16,824,398.47.

In Bataan, Dinalupihan received Php24,643,508.58, while Hermosa received Php21,186,145.67, and Morong received Php17,489,910.85.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Support Services Atty. Ramon Agregado said that the LGUs' share distribution came timely since the provinces of Zambales and Bataan were affected by three typhoons that hit the country recently.

“Hermosa has hit a deficit in resources because of the calamity. This LGU share distribution will be a huge boost to augment the resources we lost. As you all know, Hermosa was among the hardest hit municipalities by the heavy rains brought about by the typhoons and the southwest monsoon, as 18 out of 23 barangays got flooded,” newly-elected Hermosa, Bataan mayor Atty. Anne Inton said.

Aliño explained that the LGU share is determined according to 50 percent population, 25 percent land area, and 25 percent equal sharing. Net shares are computed by adding the current base share to the ten percent retention amount from two years prior, but less the ten percent retention amount from the current period.

He also shared that the reduction in the amount of dividends for the same period in 2024 of ₱204.7 million to ₱197.8 million in 2025 was due to the imposition of 25 percent tax by the Department of Finance, which is remitted by the Agency to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the removal of the five percent tax privilege wherein three percent used to be remitted to the BIR, and two percent used to be distributed as dividends among the eight contiguous LGUs.

These revenue shares collected from January to June are released in August, and revenue shares collected from July to December are released in February of the following year. (MPD-SBMA) 

Read More

Neighboring LGUs around SBF receive ₱143M revenue shares

Neighboring local government units (LGUs) around this premier free port received their revenue share of ₱143 million from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

 

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño explained that the revenue shares accorded to neighboring LGUs are given to seven municipalities and a city surrounding Subic Bay Freeport (SBF) to supplement their development funds in communities and enhance LGU projects in tourism, infrastructure, education, peace and order, health, and livelihood generation.

 

Aliño also shared that the amount is determined according to 50 percent population, 25 percent land area, and 25 percent equal sharing. 

 

Olongapo City received the significant chunk with ₱33.48 million as the most populated LGU, followed by Subic, Zambales at ₱21.48 million; Dinalupihan, Bataan at ₱17.83 million; and San Marcelino, Zambales at ₱17.19 million.

 

Meanwhile, Hermosa, Bataan received ₱15.33 million; Castillejos, Zambales at ₱13.02 million; Morong, Bataan at ₱12.66 million; and San Antonio, Zambales at ₱12.17 million.

 

According to the SBMA Accounting Department, the amount released accounted for two percent of the five percent tax on gross income paid by freeport locators from July to December 2024. The other three percent of the taxes paid are remitted directly to the national government. 

 

The LGU shares are released bi-annually. The first-semester collection is released in August, while the second-semester collection is released in February of the following year. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

Subic Freeport workforce pegged 4.8% increase at 164,400 in 2024

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has pegged its 2024 workforce at 164,400 showing a minimal but steady increase of 4.8 percent.  

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño attributed the increase in the workforce to the number of orders in the manufacturing sector that drove the workforce from 2023’s 156,811 workers to this year’s 164,400.

He said that the manufacturing sector of the Subic economic zone employed 27,484 workers by 110 companies in 2024, compared to 21,433 workers in 2023.  

“And we are anticipating more employment opportunities in Subic Freeport because of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s aggressive efforts to bring more foreign companies to invest in the country since it has been his administration’s thrust to create more jobs for Filipinos through foreign direct investments,” he said.

The manufacturing sector of Subic Bay Freeport has employed workers from Olongapo City (13,738), Bataan (3,843), Zambales (8,154), Pampanga (188), National Capital Region (140), Tarlac (79), and other areas (1,342).

Aliño added that the services sector of Subic’s workforce still has the biggest number of workers with 116,776 employees employed by 4,014 companies in 2024. It recorded an increase of 1,134 workers from 2024’s 116,776 employees, compared to 2023’s 115,642 employees.

The companies in the services sector employed workers from Olongapo City (46,857), Bataan (14,984), Zambales (17,999), Pampanga (4,419), National Capital Region (5,441), Tarlac (1,727), and other areas (25,349).

The shipbuilding/marine-related services sector, with 153 companies, recorded an increase of 309 workers to 6,187 employees in 2024 compared to 5,878 employees in 2023.

The male-dominated sector recorded 5,512 male workers and 675 female workers. It employed workers from Olongapo City (2,742), Bataan (693), Zambales (1,543), Pampanga (59), National Capital Region (347), Tarlac (11), and other areas (792).

Meanwhile, the number of employees in the construction sector reached 13,953 and employed by 320 companies. Another male-dominated industry, these 320 construction companies employed 13,357 male workers and 596 female workers coming from Olongapo City (4,749), Bataan (1,747), Zambales (2,214), Pampanga (603), National Capital Region (916), Tarlac (296), and other areas (3,428).

Aliño said that an increase of 95 workers was recorded in the construction sector, with 13,953 workers recorded in 2024, and 13,858 workers recorded in 2023.

The SBMA chief said that with the current trend the Subic Bay Freeport workforce is experiencing, any fluctuation in the country’s unemployment rate would not adversely affect the number of workers here since the steady increase is a good sign of a constant upward pace in the employment sector. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA releases ₱204.7-M LGU shares to contiguous LGUs for H1 2024

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has released the ₱204.7-million in net revenue shares for the neighboring local government units (LGUs) of this premier Freeport.

The net share received by the eight contiguous localities is part of the five percent corporate taxes paid by Subic Bay Freeport-registered enterprises from January to June 2024.

Spearheading the distribution of LGU shares on behalf of the SBMA Chairman and Administrator was Senior Deputy Administrator for Support Services Atty. Ramon O. Agregado.

The revenue shares for this period is slightly higher than last year’s ₱203 million for the same period.

For shares generated during the first half of 2024, Olongapo City will receive a net share of ₱47.8 million; Subic, Zambales will receive ₱30.7 million; San Marcelino, ₱24.5 million; Castillejos with P18.6 million; and San Antonio, ₱17.4 million

For Bataan, Dinalupihan will receive ₱25.5 million; Hermosa, ₱21.9 million; and Morong, ₱18.1 million.  

Revenue shares are determined according to the following parameters - 50% population, 25% land area, and 25% equal sharing. This makes Olongapo City the frontrunner and top recipient of revenue shares due to its population.

According to the 2020 census, Olongapo pegged its population at 206,317, the biggest among the nearby communities of the SBF. It is also the highest in terms of population density with 1,407.12 resident per square kilometer with a total of 185 sq. km. land area.

Meanwhile, net shares are computed by adding the current base share to the ten per cent retention amount from two years prior, but less ten per cent retention amount from the current period.

Since August 2010, revenue shares were directly released to the LGUs on a bi-annual basis—August for the first semester, and then February the following year for the second semester. (MPD-SBMA) 

Read More

SBMA, Subic companies augment equipment to control oil spill in Bataan

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Subic Freeport community have mobilized additional equipment to control the oil spill in Bataan.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said that the SBMA has allowed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to use its 160-meter spill boom last Friday to help contain the oil spill from the MT Terra Nova that sank off the waters of Limay town on Thursday.

Aliño said that the SBMA is willing to provide any assistance to the PCG by lending equipment from the agency’s Seaport Department. The SBMA helped the PCG provide the needed equipment at the Subic Bay Yacht Club (SBYC).

“We hope that they would also use it not just for the MT Terra Nova incident, but also for the MTKR Jason Bradley that sank on the coastal waters of Mariveles,” he added.

The SBMA conducted an emergency meeting thru Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Ronnie Yambao last week to discuss the deployment of the oil spill boom using the PCG’s BRP Suluan.

Meanwhile, two towage companies were also tapped to assist in containing the oil spill from MT Terra Nova using their expertise, equipment, and tugboats. Yambao identified the companies as Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. and Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp.

“The two companies have requested from the Operations Branch of the Seaport Department to exit the Port of Subic to respond to the oil spill in Limay,” he added.

Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc. mobilized siphoning equipment to extract at least 300,000 liters of industrial fuel oil (IFO). At least 50,000 liters of IFO are targeted to be siphoned per day.

Recently, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) held a joint meeting with the national and regional disaster risk reduction committee to address the Bataan oil spill incident.

DILG Sec. Atty. Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. led the meeting along with the National at Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils.

Bataan Gov. Joet Garcia, Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, and other government agencies were also present to discuss possible actions to avert massive oil spill in the region. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

“Lab for All” caravan goes to Subic Freeport

Lab for All Caravan made its current stop at the Subic Bay Exhibition (SBECC) in this premier Freeport on Tuesday to provide free medical services to more than 3,500 people here, including the first district of Zambales. 

The Lab for All Caravan, a flagship project of the Office of the First Lady, was formally opened by the First Lady herself, Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos. 

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, who welcomed the First Lady during her visit to the Freeport, expressed honor for the agency’s being chosen to host the event. 

“It is an honor for us to hold the Lab for All Caravan here,” Aliño said. 

Araneta-Marcos expressed her gratitude to the national government agencies who participated in the Lab for All Caravan, providing much-needed medical consultations, medicine and surgery for free to almost 4,000 beneficiaries. 

She also thanked the local officials from the provinces of Zambales, Pampanga, and Bataan for showing support to the project, and for also showing unity with their constituents during the event. 

During the opening program, the Lab for All jingle was also introduced, which the guest government elected officials learned to dance to. 

The First Lady, Chairman Aliño, Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman, Zambales First District Representative Jay Khonghun, and other guest government officials took part dancing to the Lab for All jingle.

Meanwhile, the SBMA Board of Directors, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Director Rolen Paulino, and other guest government officials also took part in the activities.

The guest agencies in the event include the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Pag-Ibig, and PhilHealth.

Chairman Aliño said that the SBMA is always ready to support any national government endeavors, especially programs that benefit the masses. “Our doors in Subic Bay Freeport are always open. It is an honor for us to be of service to our people,” Aliño said. (MPD-SBMA) 

Read More

SBMA to release ₱178-M revenue shares to contiguous LGUs

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is set to release a total of ₱178-million revenue shares to a city and seven municipalities contiguous to the country’s premier Freeport. 

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said that the shares given to local government units (LGUs) are intended to augment local resources and enable stakeholder communities to benefit from the operations of Freeport businesses by augmenting the LGUs’ funds for development projects in health, education, peace and order, and livelihood generation. 

“These revenue shares that the agency received from the locators’ gross income, are intended to create a parallel development between the Freeport and its nearby LGUs. SBMA is highly committed to support our neighboring localities by helping them improve the living conditions of their residents’,” Aliño explained. 

The LGUs include Olongapo City, which will receive a net share worth ₱41.62 million; while the Zambales towns of Subic will receive ₱26.7 million; Castillejos, ₱16.18 million; San Marcelino, ₱21.37 million; and San Antonio, ₱15.13 million.

Meanwhile, in Bataan, Morong town will receive ₱15.73 million, Hermosa ₱19.06 million, and Dinalupihan ₱22.17 million.

Per the SBMA Accounting department, the shares to be released accounted for two per cent of the five per cent tax on gross income paid for by free port locators for the period July to December 2023. The other three per cent of the taxes paid are remitted directly to the national government. 

The LGU share is determined according to population (50 per cent), land area (25 per cent), and equal sharing (25 per cent). 

Aliño said the shares given by the SBMA to the neighboring communities would benefit almost 750,000 residents in the said areas. 

Over the period of ten years, LGU shares significantly increased by 118.94% from ₱81.3 million in 2014. This is attributed to the growing number of locators who continue to trust in the services accorded to them by the agency. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA releases ₱203-M revenue shares; new chief forges strong partnerships with neighboring LGUs

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan and mayors of the eight local government units (LGUs) adjacent to this free port forged strong partnerships as the Subic agency formally turned over revenue shares for localities contiguous to and affected by the operations of this premier freeport.

 

LGU shares are derived from the 2% of the 5% corporate taxes paid by Subic Bay Freeport-registered enterprises from January to June 2023, which amounted to ₱207.65 million.

 

Less net retention amount of Php4.62 million, LGU shares in the amount of ₱203 million were turned over by Tan for the first time during a simple ceremony at the Subic Bay Travelers Hotel.

 

Grateful for the positive turnout of LGU officials, Tan gave a briefing of the future development projects that the agency will be undertaking during the next few years of his term.

 

“These development projects will surely add value to the agency as it makes an effort to attract more investments; and with more investments, more jobs will be created not only for the residents of the neighboring towns of Subic, but also for the residents of neighboring provinces,” Tan assured.

 

With this, Tan also asked the beneficiary-LGUs for their help and cooperation in promoting Subic Bay Freeport to prospective investors.

 

“The more investments we get, the more jobs we create. The more revenues we generate, the more shares the LGUs get,” he added.

 

For the province of Zambales, Olongapo City mayor Rolen Paulino, Jr. received the highest share in the amount of ₱47.46 million; Subic mayor Jon Khonghun received ₱30.5 million; a representative of Castillejos mayor Jeff Khonghun received ₱18.5 million; San Marcelino mayor Elmer Soria received ₱24.38 million; and San Antonio mayor Edzel Lonzanida received ₱17.27 million.

 

Meanwhile, for the province of Bataan, Dinalupihan mayor German Santos, Jr. received ₱25.28 million; Hermosa mayor Joseph Inton received P21.7 million; and last but not the least, Morong mayor Cynthia Estanislao received ₱17.9 million.

 

The ₱207.65-million revenue share covers the first semester of 2023, with ₱16.14 million retention from the first semester 2021 collection, less ₱20.76 million for the current collection’s ten percent retention. 

 

These revenue shares are intended to supplement development projects in health, education, peace and order, and livelihood generation of the contiguous LGUs.

 

The SBMA started releasing the shares directly to LGUs in August 2010 to ensure their prompt remittance to the local communities. The LGU share is determined according to population (50 per cent), land area (25 per cent), and equal sharing (25 per cent), which are then released periodically in August, for the first semester, and February the following year, for the second semester. (MPD-SBMA)

 

Read More

SBMA releases ₱178.7-M revenue shares to neighboring LGUs

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) officials met with the local chief executives and representatives of this premier Freeport’s neighboring local government units (LGUs) to distribute a total of ₱178.7-million revenue shares due them.

During the event, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino welcomed the mayors and their finance officials at the Terrace Hotel for a short program.

“This is the second time we are doing it face to face since restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic eased up. And as we slowly go back to our usual activities, I hope that these revenue shares would greatly help augment developments in their respective communities,” Paulino said.

“Because the SBMA and LGUs support one another, extending to them their share of our revenue is just appropriate. After all, we all are committed to protect the Freeport for our future generations,” Paulino stressed.

Meanwhile, SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator Atty. Ramon Agregado disclosed that the SBMA performance has improved in 2022—with higher revenues generated, and more business projects in the pipeline.

“The higher the revenue, the higher the tax payments, and that will be good for the LGUs,” Agregado assured as he mentioned a few projects in the pipeline that will generate a better outlook for the Freeport for the rest of the year.

Periodical figures show that the second semester revenue shares increased from ₱140,602,568.18 to ₱178,705,824.54 for the second semester of 2021 and 2022, respectively, by 27.1 percent. 

Paulino explained that the increase may have been largely attributed to the Fast, Friendly, Flexible service implemented when he assumed his post as chairman and administrator.

He further said that the shares are derived from the five-percent corporate taxes paid by business locators in the Freeport,  to promote parallel development in our neighboring communities and enhance LGU projects in tourism, infrastructure, education, peace and order, health, and livelihood generation.

All the mayors and finance officials expressed gratitude for the revenue shares, especially since they received larger amounts for their first tranche this year.

“Castillejos, Zambales is a third class municipality. A very small community and the revenue we generate is not enough. I am grateful to the SBMA for this revenue share, which is a big help for our finances, and more so because of the ₱4-million increase from last year,” Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun said.

“Our youth, our students in Dinalupihan, Bataan are thankful to the Freeport workers for their benefit from the tax they pay. We pray for good health for everyone so we can all serve our constituents,” Mayor Herman Santos, Jr. said.

During the pandemic, distribution of LGU shares was done on appointment basis to avoid crowding, in compliance with health protocols being enforced in the SBF.

For the collection period of January to December 2022, the SBMA has released a total of ₱319.3 million revenue shares, which is computed according to population (50%), land area (25%), and equal sharing (25%).

As such, the biggest LGU beneficiary for this period is Olongapo City, which received a total of ₱41,779,273.37. It is followed by Subic, Zambales with ₱26,842,905.77; Dinalupihan, Bataan with ₱22,257,027.69; San Marcelino, Zambales with ₱21,461,412.26; Hermosa, Bataan with ₱19,103,262.77; Castillejos, Zambales with ₱16,277,249.93; Morong, Bataan with ₱15,780,896.32; and San Antonio, Zambales with ₱15,203,796.43.

Revenue shares are released twice a year—August for the first semester, and February of the following year for second semester. (MPD-SBMA)

Read More