SBMA inaugurates ₱44M Upper Binictican bridge

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has inaugurated and opened the ₱44-million new Upper Binictican Bridge at the Binictican Area of this premier Freeport on May 15, 2025.

 

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said that the new Upper Binictican Bridge replaced the old structure that was built by the Americans in the 1960s when this Freeport was still a US Naval Base.

 

Aliño added that the old bridge has already served motorists in this Freeport for more than 60 years now and should be replaced since it connects the residential area of Binictican to the rest of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. 

 

He further said that the SBMA Engineering Department and maintenance management company A. C. Ong conducted a structural investigation that revealed the old bridge was already in the advanced stage of deterioration due to long-term structural damage. 

 

A few years back, the SBMA and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of a new bridge that will replace the old one. 

 

The SBMA’s Office of the Deputy Administrator (ODA) for Public Works and Technical Services Group (PWTSG) led the construction of the new bridge that was designed and supervised by the DPWH Bataan 1st District Engineering Office (DEO). 

 

PWTSG Deputy Administrator Engr. Marco Estabillo said that the construction commenced on May 8, 2024, and was foreseen to be completed by May 15, 2025. 

 

Estabillo further said that the new bridge design is a reinforced concrete deck girder (RCDG) bridge with a single span and two lanes. The bridge, meanwhile, will be supported by reinforced concrete abutments and a mat/ spread foundation due to the rocky/ boulder nature of the earth.

 

The old bridge measured 17.30m in length, 7.30m in width, with no sidewalks. Meanwhile, the new bridge, Estabillo added, is 22.80m in length, 7.32m in width, with 1.11m sidewalks on both sides, and is now higher by 1.20 meters to prevent log clogging and higher river water capacity absorption during typhoons. 

 

“Transition roads will be regraded and repaved with six meters of Portland cement with asphalt overlay and extensions,” he said.

 

The new bridge will now allow tourists to visit the Pamulaklakin Trail, one of the most visited areas of the Subic Bay Freeport, since it is part of the Pastolan Ayta’s facility that allows tourists to experience outdoor life while learning survival skills from the Ayta instructors. (MPD-SBMA) 

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SBMA gives Subic Aytas P14.8 million for land rental

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) achieved another milestone in improving the lives of the indigenous Ayta tribesmen in this free port when it handed over to tribal leaders on Monday millions of pesos representing payment for the use of the Ayta ancestral land here.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia handed over the check in the amount of P14,791,440.00 to Conrado Frenilla, chieftain of the Pastolan Aytas here, in the presence of other tribal elders, as well as representatives of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) headed by Regional Director Salong Sunggod.

The check represents the share of the Ayta Ambala tribe of the village of Pastolan in the lease rentals of business companies located within the Ayta ancestral domain from May 2009 to December 2013.

“This day is historical for the SBMA,” Garcia said during the turnover held after last Monday’s flag-raising ceremony. “At last we have fulfilled one of the major commitments of the agency for our Ayta brethren under an agreement that we have signed with them,” he added.

The Ayta Ambala tribe holds a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) representing ownership of the more than 4,280 hectares of land covering the Kalayaan and the Binictican housing areas in this free port, as well as the tourism areas of Apaliin, Pamulaklakin, and El Kabayo, among others.

The joint management agreement (JMA) between the SBMA and the Ayta tribe authorizes the Subic agency to undertake systematic management and development of parts of the ancestral land to help uplift the economic, cultural and social life of the tribe based on the programs implemented by the government.

Under the JMA, the Pastolan Aytas will collect 5% of the gross income paid by the investors for rent of the land starting May 12, 2009, when the CADT was registered. In addition, each Aeta family will receive P20,000 a year.

Other benefits include hiring of qualified Aeta workers; implementation of community development assistance programs; construction of schoolrooms for high school, and the hiring of four teachers; establishment of a community clinic with detailed medical personnel from the SBMA Public Health and Safety Department; and an annual donation of P100,000 each for village fiesta and Christmas celebrations.

In receiving the SBMA allocation, Frenilla said that they will use the fund to develop their community, improve the Pamulaklakin tourist facility, and send qualified and deserving students to colleges.

“Malaking bagay talaga ang itinutulong sa amin ng SBMA. Tulad ngayon, mapag-aaral na namin ang mga kabataang Ayta sa kolehiyo para lalo pang mapaunlad ang kanilang buhay,” said Frenilla.

He added that a small amount of the fund will also be used for a modest celebration in order for all tribe members to really feel the benefits from the SBMA.

Frenilla also noted that community members who initially objected to the JMA are now returning to the village after seeing the improvements in their community since the JMA was signed.

NCIP’s Dir. Sunggod said, for his part, that this was the first time in the country that an indigenous people’s group received a share of payment for the use by investors of their ancestral land.

“Ito ang unang-unang pangyayari sa ating bansa na hindi lamang kinilala ang karapatan ng mga katutubo sa kanilang lupang ninuno, kundi ibinigay pa sa kanila ang karampatang pakinabang,” Sunggod said.

He added that the SBMA could be a model for other agencies in the country in terms of providing assistance and undertaking developments to improve the lives of indigenous people. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
[1] SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia (second from left) holds a symbolic check representing payment for the use of Ayta ancestral lands with Chieftain Conrado Frenilla (right) and SBMA Director Wilfredo Pineda. With them are (from left): NCIP Director Salong Sunggod, Mrs. Marivic Garcia, and other SBMA officials. (AED)

[2] Members of the Ayta Ambala tribe in the Subic Bay Freeport join SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia and Chieftain Conrado Frenilla, along with SBMA Public Relations manager Armie Armas and other employees, in displaying a symbolic check representing payment for the use of Ayta ancestral lands in the Subic Bay Freeport. (AED)

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Enhanced security seen at SBMA housing areas

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will be implementing enhanced security measures to better serve the fast-growing population of residents and visitors using housing complexes in the free port zone.

The move was in compliance with the instruction of SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza to maintain a high level of security in the zone and to safeguard properties of transients and residents.

Arreza also emphasized the need for enhanced security as the SBMA prepares for the peak summer season.

“We cannot afford to lose the credibility that makes the Subic Bay Freeport proud to be among the safest and most secure places in the country,” Arreza said. “So we have to upgrade our security system and implement better guidelines.

Arreza also noted that Subic continues to be a favorite tourist destination because of well-defined security and safety policies that are implemented by well-disciplined but courteous law enforcers.

Responding to Arreza’s order, retired Gen. Orlando Maddela, the head of the SBMA Law Enforcement Department (LED), announced the creation of new units to ensure full implementation of new and existing security policies in the housing areas.

“Most of these policies are already in place, but our LED Operations Group (LOG) is conducting a series of meetings with home owners to consult them on what else can be done to improve security,” Maddela said.

Major Vicente Tolentino, who heads the operations group, said that among the enhanced security measures to be implemented in the housing areas is the so-called Monitored Mobile Police Patrols program, whereby all security patrol-related activities are to be relayed to the department’s control center.

The LOG will also initiate "On-the-go" housing security coordinators who will be roving residential areas on 24/7 routines; posting of strict but courteous checkpoint sentry guards; and 100 percent security vehicle inspection.

Tolentino added that service vehicle drivers, as well as caretakers and residents, will be required to present job orders or identification cards before they are allowed to enter housing areas.

Housing area vehicle decals and stickers can be availed of at the Motor Vehicle Registration Office, while residents ID cards can be secured at the SBMA Office Services Department, formerly the Pass Processing Department.

Maddela likewise said that a “no loitering” policy shall be strictly implemented in housing areas, particularly during night time, and that even non-duty LED personnel will not be allowed to stay in the housing area without permission of the detachment.

The SBMA will also not tolerate illegal shanties and settlers in adjacent forest areas, Maddela said.

In line with the enhanced security measures, the SBMA urged residents and visitors to report any untoward event or suspicious activity to the SBMA-LED emergency hot lines, using 911 for land lines or 9111 for mobile phones.

The public may also directly call SBMA-LED detachments at 252-5346 (Kalayaan Area), 252-5347 (Binictican Area) and 252-5413 (Cubic Area). (SBMA Corporate Communications)

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