SBMA establishes EODB lane for ID processing for SBF locators

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has recently established the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) lane, a special lane dedicated to the batch processing of identification cards for employees and workers here.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Renato Lee III, who recently inspected the agency’s frontline services on May 30 with the SBMA Anti-Red Tape Unit members, also visited the SBMA-Office Services Department (OSD)’s Pass Issuance and Control Division (PICD).

 

To facilitate the efficient processing of SBMA IDs for companies with many employees, the PICD institutionalized batch processing through non-appearance processing for 20 or more applicants or off-site processing for 100 or more applicants.

 

“It only takes 24 minutes per application for both non-appearance processing and off-site processing. Last year, the OSD-PICD was able to process 5,273 applications from various SBF companies through off-site ID processing, and 2,948 applications as of May 2025,” Lee said.

 

“While processing individual applications at the OSD is generally straightforward, the overall processing and waiting tend to increase when applicants come in groups,” he added.

 

In addition to the OSD-PICD, Lee also inspected the Motor Vehicle Registration Office, the Telecommunications Department, the Ecology Department, the Building Permit Department, the Visa Processing Office, the Business Group’s Logistics Department, the Manufacturing and Maritime Department, the Leisure Department, and the Tourism Department.

 

The Anti-Red Tape Unit inspection was accompanied by stakeholders, including the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC). It also coincided with EODB month as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared May as the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Month.

 

This year’s theme is “From Red Tape to Red Carpet: Better Business Movement in a Bagong Pilipinas” which promotes the government’s collective efforts in fostering a more conducive business environment that benefits every Filipino in the Bagong Pilipinas. (MPD-SBMA) 

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Gov't enhances services; launches 'super apps' in Subic Freeport

As part of the ongoing efforts to enhance government services and improve the quality and turnaround time of official stakeholder transactions, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) launched the e-Gov and the e-LGU mobile applications at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), Subic Bay Freeport on Tuesday, September 3.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño welcomed this game-changing initiative led by DICT Region 3 Director Antonio Edward Padre.

Aliño also lauded this undertaking as this will enhance government services and improve industry processes and transactions.

"The e-Gov 'super app' houses all government institutions in a single site, which will enable stakeholders to avail of government services faster and with less stress, less expenses, and less man hours. Lining up in queues will be reduced and hours spent for travel time may instead be utilized productively for other activities," he said in the speech read on his behalf by SBMA Management Information Systems Office manager Engr. Vergil Joseph Lansangan.

"Ultimately, this project hopes to eliminate corruption and red tape in government transactions since the platform will keep track of them and leave a clear audit record," he added.

Government Digital Transformation Bureau Director June Vincent Manuel Gaudan disclosed that this mobile app allows inclusivity and empowerment across the nation; no individual is left behind. Stakeholders will now have easy access to various government online services and information since all sites are being housed in a single mobile application, which covers all local and national levels of public agencies.

Gaudan added that the launching held in this premier Freeport is significant for the e-Gov app, citing that the Green Lanes of the app provides "Ease of Doing Business" for foreign companies looking into investing in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

He added that this is in line with Executive Order 18 or the Constituting Green Lanes for Strategic Investments policy, which is a government-wide response to enhance Ease of Doing Business by mandating the creation of Green Lane units in all government offices that will expedite, streamline and automate government processes for Strategic Investments.

"There are many processes and transactions that happens in Subic Bay Freeport that needs to be digitized for a more efficient way of conducting business here since the e-Gov integrates the multi-sectoral government services in a single platform, covering a wide range of local government services such as business permit licensing, community tax, local civil registry and many others," he said.

The launching on Tuesday was participated in by DICT officials, Zambales Governor's Office, Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr., SBMA officials namely MIS manager Engr. Vergil Joseph Lansangan and Telecoms OIC Engr. Eddie Ventura, and National Government Portal Project Director Joshua Vazir Querol.

Secretary Ivan John Uy, USec David Almirol Jr., ASec. Maria Teresa Camba, Congressman Jefferson Khonghun' Chief of Staff Jan Joshua Khonghun, representative of Congresswoman Doris Maniquiz, Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Stephany Panaligan, ARTA Chief Admin Officer Mary Grace Manabat, USec. Mark Cristeo Gimenez, DTI R3 Director Edna Dizon, PSA Zambales Chief Statistics Specialist Norman Bundalian, FCSupt. Renato Capuz of BFP R3, and Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) PB Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr.'s representative expressed their support for the e-Gov system.

Meanwhile, DICT Zambales Director Jeffrey Lazaro presented future plans that will affect the digitization of government services in Zambales.

The e-LGU system creates a single operating system for all government transactions to ensure ease of doing business, as part of the digital transformation of government towards more efficient, faster service delivery, and transparency across all localities in the country.

As mandated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the e-LGU is among the vital components of the DICT's e-Gov PH Super App.

Anchored on the Administration’s whole-of-government agenda, the e-LGU nationwide caravan is a joint project of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the DICT. (MPD-SBMA)

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Senate lauds SBMA Chief for new policies in the Freeport

Deputy Majority Floor Leader Senator Joseph Victor ‘JV’ Ejercito during the latest senate budget hearing on Thursday publicly congratulated Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Jonathan Tan for introducing new policies that will shape a brighter and more vibrant future for the free port.

Ejercito particularly cited the land auditing and repossession of properties of erring locators.

“Congratulations on your efforts to steer Subic Bay Freeport into becoming an active catalyst for economic growth and development. I am confident that Subic will soon regain its once brilliant past!” Sen. Ejercito said.

Since Chairman Tan assumed office, he has been working on various initiatives which include the audit and repossession of erring locators. Aside from this, he is also keen on implementing a streamlined business process in compliance with the Ease of Doing Business Act to attract more investors, increase revenues and generate more employment. He has also ordered the strict monitoring of illegal trade and the conduct of anti-smuggling activities.

Tan assumed office in May this year and has been working with an open door policy since then. His office warmly welcomes locators with various concerns and finds resolutions to them.

Tan is extremely keen in going after landbankers and erring locators. He also introduced the EASE OF DOING BUSINESS in the freeport to bring more investors in.

Chairman Tan expressed his sincere gratitude to the Senate particularly to Sen. Ejercito for acknowledging the effort his administration has initiated. Tan promises a more dynamic and investor-friendly SBMA in the days to come. (MPD-SBMA)

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Tan bares 10-pt. agenda as new strategic direction for SBMA, SBF

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan bared his ten-point priority development plan before the officers and members of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) early this week. 

Tan was guest of honor at the SBFCC Membership Meeting and CEO’s/President’s Forum held at the LeCharmé Suites-Subic where he gave an update about the developments and plans for his term. 

Looking back at the past four weeks he spent as SBMA Chairman and Administrator, he said that he already learned an important lesson. 

“Pressure and challenges are opportunities for us to step-up and rise. While it takes a lot of courage to believe in yourself, but strength doesn’t come from what you can do, but from overcoming the thought that you can’t do it. Adversity may have its way of challenging our inner strength, yet it is necessary to build our character as leaders. Thus, I stand before you today, guided by a clear purpose and direction for the Subic Bay Freeport,” he said. 

During his speech, he challenged everyone that moving forward means letting go of “what’s no longer working,” which is not only applicable to the agency but to the entire Freeport as well. 

With this, Tan said that his administration would be implementing a new strategic direction taken after his name’s initials, which is anchored on three economic thrusts, namely: J for jobs, or creating more jobs for the people; D for development, or encouraging more investors by making the Freeport a competitive business hub; and T for tourism, or making one’s stay at the Freeport relaxing while doing business. 

He added that the development agenda is in support of the socioeconomic targets of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., which is in line with the “whole-of-society approach” of the national development. 

His extensive update tackled the following points: (1) Implementation of “Ease of Doing Business; (2) Improvement of Investment Climate at the Freeport; (3) Increase Job Opportunities for the People; (4) Construction of the Corporate Center; (5) Adoption of Smart City Initiative; (6) Prioritization of Infrastructure Development; (7) Improvement of Public Transport Services; (8) Enhancement of Ground Maintenance and Street-lighting; (9) Reinforcement of Safety and Security within the Freeport; and (10) Creation of a Tourism Development Plan. 

Meanwhile, SBFCC President Benjamin Antonio III, on behalf of the members of the chamber, expressed support and cooperation with the SBMA with Tan at the helm. 

Likewise, Tan expressed commitment to uphold the agency’s partnership with the chamber by constantly improving and establishing a business-friendly environment. 

The event culminated with a moderated forum between the members of the chamber and the SBMA Chairman and Administrator. 

The SBFCC is an organization of businesses founded in 1995 to serve and represent the interests of its members, who come from more than 20 countries around the world. It represents 80% of the economy flow in the Freeport. (MPD-SBMA)

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More Taiwanese businessmen visit Subic Freeport for investment prospects

Another batch of Taiwanese businessmen visited to look into investment and business prospects inside this premier Freeport on Thursday.

According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan who welcomed the team, the facility visit is part of the Integrated Investment Campaign: New Southbound Philippines-Taiwan Delegation in the Philippines. 

The said campaign is aimed at providing foreign investors an insight about the business climate in the Freeport and entice them to invest here. 

During the investment briefing held at the SBMA boardroom, Tan disclosed to the nine-man delegation of businessmen that the administration’s new approach in enticing investments here is called the JDT method which stands for Jobs, Development and Tourism. 

Using the Chairman’s initials, the JDT method focuses on increasing job opportunities for Filipino workers, Development of the Subic Bay Freeport, and Tourism boom for all tourist spots here.

“J for jobs, create more jobs for the people; D for development, encourage more investors in making the Freeport a competitive business hub; and T for tourism, make your stay at the Freeport relaxing while doing business,” Tan said.

Business and Investment Department for Manufacturing and Maritime (BID-MM) Manager Karen Magno gave an investment briefing to the group regarding the various business activities inside the Freeport Zone. 

She also highlighted the ease of doing business in the Freeport as the SBMA very well provides assistance for companies locating here.

Xantheng Subic International Corporation Assistant to the CEO Best Chang also presented the Tipo Hightech Eco Park (THEP) located at the Tipo Gate area. THEP is a rising industrial park that can cater from small to heavy industry businesses.

The Subic Bay Development and Management Corporation (SBDMC) Inc. Investment Services Department Manager Julie Tan also gave a briefing on the Subic Bay Gateway Park (SBGP), citing that the area has been one of the first industrial parks for Taiwanese companies in Subic.

Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) Taipei Director for Commercial Affairs and Head of Delegation Anthony B. Rivera expressed his gratitude to Chairman Tan, citing that the Subic Bay Freeport is certainly a conducive area for Taiwanese businesses to prosper.

The official also thanked the SBMA for the presentation, facility visit and for arranging the meetings with other locators inside the Freeport, citing that the information provided will certainly be useful for companies looking into investing in Subic.

Deputy Administrator for Business Group Atty. John Aquino also conveyed his gratitude to the delegation, citing that their interest in investing in Subic Freeport would also mean the possibility of investing here. He added that by giving them a look into this premier Freeport, the delegation would also pique the interest of other Taiwanese companies as well. 

The business mission, which is an offshoot of the Integrated Investment Promotion Campaign in Taiwan back in October 2022, was made thru the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) of Taipei. (MPD-SBMA)

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Pacific Business Mission delegates explore SBF as among sites for future Aussie investments

This premier Freeport was recently among the sites considered for exploration by the delegates of the Pacific Business Mission for its future investments.

The Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) of Australia/New Zealand, in partnership with the Subic-Clark Alliance Development Council (SCADC) and the Board of Investments (BOI) accompanied Australian businesspersons to visit key viable investment sites in the Central Luzon area including this premier Freeport zone.

Headed by Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen De La Vega, the delegation also visited Clark Freeport Zone, Mt. Samat Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone and the Province of Bataan before proceeding to Subic Bay.

The group was said to have expressed interest in possible investment projects related to tourism, automotive and electric vehicle manufacturing, agribusiness, and renewable energy.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) employees, led by its Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, received the delegates with a warm welcome at the Subic Bay Travelers Hotel in a luncheon briefing.

“As the global economy is struggling to bounce back from the negative effects of Covid-19 pandemic, we are glad to have this opportunity to participate in this investment mission and introduce or re-introduce the Subic Bay Freeport and Economic Zone to you,” the Chairman said.

Paulino encouraged the business delegates to make it happen in the Philippines, especially in Subic Bay, that the entire SBF community is looking forward “with much enthusiasm to work in partnership with all of you for the growth and progress of the Philippine economy, in general, and in the Subic Bay Freeport community, in particular.”

During the program, SBMA Business and Investment for Manufacturing and Maritime department manager Karen Magno gave the group a briefing on the business climate in the Freeport on behalf of Senior Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Renato Lee III.

“We strive very, very hard to keep the confidence of our investors and maintain this site as an ideal site for investment. This is because of our core Filipino value we call ‘malasakit.’ Malasakit is the deepest form of caring. Malasakit to our stakeholders, malasakit to Subic, which we call home,” Magno said.

She added that because of malasakit, the business group, through the SBMA Board of Directors, was able to complete the processing of 63 new investments during the height of the pandemic in order to sustain the economy in the Freeport.

The said new projects with a committed investment worth US$24 billion required additional 682 employment opportunities for the residents of Olongapo, Bataan and Zambales areas.

Currently, the SBF houses 28 Australian locators with a committed investments totaling to US$11 million and an employment of 577 workers.

Hugh McDougall, President and CEO of Australia Farm Innovation, and Nick Fenwick, President and COO of Fabric8 Membrane Services, and both Australian locators in the Freeport, attested to the warm and professional reception of SBMA personnel, skilled and English-speaking workers, and the Fast, Friendly, and Flexible services that the SBMA has been extending them.

Australia Farm Innovation is the leading Philippines Supplier of Innovative and High Quality Prefabricated Agricultural Buildings and Equipment, while Fabric8 Membrane Services is a company that specializes in contract fabrication of textile materials used in major projects globally.

Meanwhile, SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business group Atty. John Aquino acknowledged the effort of the PTIC, SCADC, BOI and all the Investment Promotion Agencies as the Philippine Statistics Office recently announced that the Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) reached ₱46 billion for the second quarter of this year alone.

Aquino proudly said that 71.34 percent of the said FDIs, or ₱32.98 billion were approved by the SBMA. (MPD-SBMA) 

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SBMA steps up to provide stakeholders ease of bills payment

 

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has taken a step further to provide its stakeholders in this premier freeport a faster and more convenient way of paying their bills.

The SBMA recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Intercommerce Network Services Inc. (INS) and I-Pay MYEG Philippines Inc. (IPMPI) to further enhance its Electronic Bills & Payment System (eBPS).

“I think this eBPS would help our stakeholders a lot in terms of convenience in bills payment. This will save them time and fuel. Instead of going to our Treasury office or to any Landbank branch, they could just pay online or visit a partner merchant, at their convenience,” SBMA chairman and administrator Rolen C. Paulino said.

In September 2015, the SBMA first launched the eBPS, initially with the LandBank of the Philippines (LBP) as a collection system partner, and INS as provider of electronic payment platform.

However, with the emergence of a vast number of electronic payment systems, especially due to the restrictions during the pandemic, the demand for additional payment channel options encouraged the partnership to venture into other possibilities to explore further enhancement that will provide efficiencies to SBF stakeholders.

So in 2021, the INS introduced IPMPI to the SBMA to provide an additional electronic payment and collection system partner, giving stakeholders more options of choosing from over 90,000 electronic payment channels.

“We are more than happy that MYEG will be part of this initiative together with Intercommerce. Thank you very much for the partnership and for the trust that you have given MYEG,” said Ann Margaret Saldana, IPMPI Chief Executive Officer.

Saldana said that electronic payment channels such as 7-eleven, Cebuana Lhuiller, Palawan Express for cash payment, and GCash, Maya, GrabPay, Shoppee Pay, as well as credit cards for mobile payments, will be available with the intervention of MYEG.

She also assured that INS and MYEG will be working hand in hand to make sure that the citizens will be familiar with the platform that they could use at their preferred convenience without having to go to different offices to settle payments thru cashiers.

Moreover, INS president Francis Norman Lopez sees the partnership also as opening doors to other payment requirements of the agency.

“We hope that this would also be extended to the other payment requirements of SBMA like port facilities or services, and payment of other transactions of the SBMA. For that matter, I think, SBMA would be the first that would cover all its electronic payment transactions,” Lopez said.

Meanwhile, Paulino added that with the eBPS, the SBMA would also be complying with its obligations to the national government--Ease of Doing Business Act for providing convenience to stakeholders, ARTA for paperless transactions by opening digital payment services, and Executive Order 170 or the Adoption of Digital Payments for Government Disbursement and Collections.

With this MOA the SBMA shall authorize the INS and IPMPI for a period initially of one year to enhance the electronic billing and payment system and include MYEG, and its partners, as an additional payment gateway and to utilize the IPMPI’s multiple payment channels.

The implementation of the eBPS will be a big plus-factor to investors trying to make it happen in the Philippines, the convenience of payment transactions when they invest in Subic Bay.

The eBPS will be re-launched virtually on July 25 and 26 via Google Meet. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA: Measures promoting ‘ease of doing business’ already in place

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) clarified on Friday that it has put in place significant measures to improve locator services in the Subic Bay Freeport in line with President Duterte’s directive for agencies to simplify business procedures and expedite transactions.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said among the measures already implemented by the Subic agency are extending the validity of business permits from one to three years, and establishing one-stop shops to automate the processing of permit renewals.

“We have operationalized these measures last year, which was also the time when President Duterte approved Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018,” Eisma pointed out.

“In fact, we established the One-Stop Shop Business Processing Center (OSSBPC) in February 2018 and then released the first batch of the three-year Certificates of Registration and Tax Exemption (CRTEs) in June last year. RA 11032 was approved in May,” she said.

“Then following the issuance this July of the implementing rules and regulations for RA 11032, we formed our anti-red tape unit with key officials as members, and also created three technical working groups to oversee compliance with the law,” she added.

The SBMA official cited these initiatives in the wake of a report that some businessmen here were urging the Subic agency to “adhere to the ‘ease of doing business’ law.” (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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