P3.6-B golf course-leisure park to rise in Subic Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has approved the proposal of a Korean-led company for the development of a P3.6-billion golf course and hotel and leisure facilities complex in the Subic Bay Freeport.

SBMA Administrator and CEO Wilma Eisma on Tuesday signed a 20-page lease and development agreement for the project, along with Suyong Kim, president of the proponent-company DMLeisure Corp.

Eisma said the proposed leisure complex that will be built in a 200-hectare portion of the Tipo Area here is expected to further boost eco-tourism in Subic, bolster investment, and increase livelihood opportunities in the area.

“We expect it to be another grand tourist destination in the region, another magnet for more down-line businesses and employment, as well as another distinctive landmark for the evolving Subic Freeport Zone,” Eisma said.

She noted that the project will be most accessible because it is to be located near the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) and would be about a two-hour drive from Manila via the North Luzon Expressway, and about 45 minutes from the Clark Freeport via SCTEx.

According to the approved project proposal, DMLeisure Corp. will infuse a minimum investment of P3.6 billion, of which P2.6 billion would be allotted as development commitment. The project is scheduled to be completed in three phases within an eight-year period or in 2025.

For the first phase, the company will build an 18-hole golf course and clubhouse in a 120-hectare area. This will be finished within two years, or by 2019.

On the third year, DMLeisure Corp. will start the second phase of the project with the construction of hotel villas and commercial complex in a 67-hectare area. This phase is expected to be finished before the end of 2022.

The last stage of the project will be the construction of indoor and outdoor water theme parks, other tourism and leisure facilities, as well as condominium units within a 13-hectare area. The final phase is expected to be operating by 2025.

Another bit of good news for local residents, Eisma said, is DMLeisure’s commitment to generate a significant number of jobs. She said the company will be needing about 1,000 workers during the construction period and, upon project completion, will also be hiring a minimum of 1,000 employees for its various operations.

“DMLeisure is among the positive results of our intensified marketing and promotion campaign to convince investors and business communities from our neighbor countries to invest in Subic,” said Eisma, who recently spoke in Philippine investment roadshows in Taiwan and Australia.

Eisma said that with the entry of more investors, the SBMA will be working with the surrounding local government units (LGUs) to start developing light industrial parks and tourism and commercial areas, as demands for bigger spaces rise along with the influx of investments.

The SBMA official said that the new investment areas to be created within the nearby communities will become an extension of the Subic Bay Freeport as stipulated under Executive Order 675, which took effect in November 2007. This allowed LGUs, through the approval of the local council, to declare any part of their jurisdiction as additional secured area of the Subic Bay Special Economic and Freeport Zone (SSEFPZ) which shall be organized, administered, managed and operated directly by the SBMA. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA administrator and CEO Wilma Eisma and DMLeisure president Suyong Kim (second from left) sign a lease and development agreement for a P3.6-billion leisure development project in the Subic Bay Freeport. Signing as witnesses are a senior DMLeisure official and SBMA director Tomas Lahom III (right). (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA set to attract more Japanese investors to Subic Bay

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is eyeing more Japanese companies to invest inside this premier freeport after the agency bagged a contract with Japanese company Subic Smart Community Corporation (SSCC) to upgrade the Subic golf course.

SBMA Administrator Atty. Wilma T. Eisma said that the upgrading of the Subic golf course will play an integral part in attracting more tourists to the Freeport.

The Subic Bay golf clubhouse 

“When we first envisioned the Subic Freeport during its initial stage, we were thinking of making this into a port city like Singapore. Aside from the usual port operations like cargo and bulk handling, we imagined Subic Freeport as a tourist haven for local and international tourists alike,” she said.

The SBMA has approved a $30-million investment for the upgrade of the Subic Bay golf course by the SSCC. According to Masafumi Miyamoto, the company will develop Subic Bay golf course into a world-class venue for tournaments and a housing facility for the elderly and retirees.

Miyamoto is the founder of the Smart Community Co., Ltd., the first and largest continuing-care retirement community in Japan.

The two-pronged development project is touted as a potential major asset in the Subic Freeport. The first part is the $3-million renovation and redevelopment of the whole golf course within the span of two years.

The renovation will include the clubhouse, sprinkler systems and repair of ponds, improvement of the greens and the upgrade of machinery and equipment such as golf carts and service vehicles.

Miyamoto said the golf course will remain in operation despite the renovation, leaving open a minimum of nine holes.

The second part of the development project is the $27-million expansion of all areas for the Subic Smart Community within a six-year period. This will include the construction of 200 residential units within the span of two years.

Another 1,800 residential units will be added, including various amenities such as a gym, a sports center, arts and crafts studios, karaoke or music rooms, function rooms, library and bars and restaurants.

The plan to create residential areas is part of Miyamoto’s proposal for Japanese retirees after a market study showed that Japan’s elderly care businesses rose to a whopping $252-billion in 2015. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

Japanese firm sets $30-M to develop Subic Bay golf course

A Japanese company will be developing the Subic Bay golf course into a world-class venue for tournaments, coupled with a facility that will offer housing complexes and fulfilling lifestyle choices for retirees.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said the Subic agency had awarded the golf course development project to a firm headed by Japanese businessman Masafumi Miyamoto, founder of the Smart Community Co., Ltd., the first and largest continuing-care retirement community in Japan.

The Subic Bay golf course clubhouse

“This project is a game-changer for Subic,” Garcia said, noting that it will transform Subic’s existing fairways that had been left rotting in the past few years into a major year-round tourist attraction.

He added that the visiting friends and relatives of those who would reside in the retirement village would likewise generate more economic activities in transportation, shopping malls, medical facilities, hotels, tourist attractions, banks, restaurants, and other businesses.

The project would cost a total of $30 million, excluding a fixed annual rental fee of $350,000 and a five-percent gross revenue share payable to the SBMA for the entire 50-year lease period.

Garcia said that in awarding the lease development contract to Miyamoto, the SBMA considered the overall concept of the project, the proponent’s financial capability, market availability, and business plan presented to agency officials in December last year.

“This s a two-pronged development project that considered the best potentials for what could be considered a major asset in the Subic Freeport,” Garcia said.

Accordingly, the first component, at the cost of $3 million, would involve the renovation and re-development of the whole golf course within two years, from June 2016 to June 2018. This will cover clubhouse renovation, installation of sprinkler systems and repair of ponds, improvement of the golf course, and upgrade of machinery and equipment, golf carts, and service vehicles.

Garcia said the project proponent had promised that the golf course would remain operational throughout the renovation period through a rotational renovation plan that would keep a minimum of nine holes open at a given time.

The second component is the $27-million development of all allowable open areas for the Subic Smart Community within a six-year period. This would consist of the construction and development of an initial 200 condominium units from 2016 to 2018. Next would be the completion of about 1,800 condominium units with various amenities like gym, sports center, arts and crafts studios, karaoke or music rooms, function rooms, library, and bars and restaurants, among others.

Garcia said that Miyamoto’s proposal was based on a market study that showed Japan’s aging society as becoming a financial burden to both the Japanese people and government. This situation had reportedly led to the emergence of elderly care businesses that had rapidly grown to a $252-billion industry just in 2015.

“Subic Bay has been chosen particularly because of its relatively constant weather patterns conducive for year-round golf play and because of its untapped areas that have great potential for a retirement complex,” Garcia noted.

Aside from starting the Smart Community in 2004, Miyamoto founded in 1986 the Square Enix Co., Ltd., which is engaged in publishing, distribution, and licensing of digital entertainment content worldwide, including the highly successful Tomb Raider Final Fantasy.

Miyamoto also founded the Sunpia Golf Club, in Japan’s Tokushima City, which has a total of 100 hectares, with three helipads, 300 parking slots, and driveways lined with cherry blossom trees. (NBM/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

Subic Investors Unite For Tourism

In an effort to push the current status of this premier Freeport’s tourism, hotel and tourism companies here unite to come up with the “Stay in a Hotel in Subic, Play a round of golf for free!”

Subic Leisure World Inc. President and CEO Benjamin John Defensor III said all tourists who stay at their accredited hotels can play a free round of golf at the Subic Golf Course.

“It’s a simple, yet effective way, of enticing tourist golfers to take their families in Subic Bay Freeport and enjoy the many tourism sites here. It would also give those golfers a chance to try out the new golf course,” Defensor added.

Accredited hotels that give out free round of golf are Venezia Hotel, White Rock Waterpark, Subic Homes Apartelle, Mango Valley, The Terrace Hotel, Bayfront Hotel, Seorabeol, and Playa Papagayo Beach Inn.

Subic Bay Freeport was hounded by controversies such as the alleged “toxic waste” dumping that has lessened the usual number of incoming tourists during peak season.

“We believe that investors such as we, can help in increasing the current number of tourists coming to Subic by creating a package not just for ordinary tourists but golf enthusiasts as well,” Defensor said.

The golf course formally reopened on January 1st upon the completion of the renovation of their fully functional nine holes and is currently in the process of completing up to the 18th hole. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

Read More

Refurbished golf course to revive Subic airport

Subic Golf Course operator Hanafil Golf and Tour Inc. will revive the Subic Bay International Airport by bringing in more foreign golfers once the golfing facility is finished.

The company plans to resume its junket flights after golf course stakeholder Hanatour, South Korea’s largest tourism company, pledged to bring in tourists directly to Subic.

“We are planning to use the SBIA and a partner airline company with low cost fares to bring in more golfers from other countries. The golf course was designed to handle 180 golfers a day, and that number will expand once we add nine more holes in the next phase of the development,” Hanafil President and CEO Benjamin John Defensor III said.

Currently, the company has completed 40 percent of the reconstruction process for the course.

“That includes the reshaping of the greens and fairways of the first nine holes to make it flow better,” Defensor said.

“Current improvements are the eco-friendly irrigation system that uses recycled water, brand new nursery that can use salt water and the drainage system that was replaced to accommodate the volume of rainfall come this rainy season.”

“But these renovations are not just for new members; the company is also accommodating all previous members of the golf club as long as they update their accounts and coordinate with us and the SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority),” Defensor said.

An agreement was signed recently between the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the SBMA and Clark Development Corporation (CDC) that would allow visa-free entry to foreigners visiting the two free ports.

Under the agreement signed by Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan with SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza and CDC President Benigno Ricafort, officers and personnel of foreign locators in the two free ports may now enter and stay in the country without a visa for a period of 14 days.

The privilege, however, will only be extended to those arriving through the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) or the SBIA. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

Read More

Subic Golf Course to sell $20-M shares

Around $20-million worth of shares are up for grabs as soon as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approves the selling of Subic Golf Course membership inside this premier Freeport.

Subic Golf Course operator Hanafil Golf and Tour, Inc. released the statement, adding that the money will be used for further development of the area.

Hanafil CEO Benjamin John Defensor III said that they are also planning to absorb all of the members the golf course that are in good standing.

He added that they would also be opening their doors to members who went dormant but would want to update their membership with the new golf course operator.

The golf course’s 500 members are composed mostly of Filipinos, but Defensor said that with the trend Subic Bay Freeport is going, it would not be long that foreign golfers would take the majority of members.

“We have already tapped Netforce International to reconstruct the facility. We are currently replacing the greens and fairways to make Subic Golf a world-class golf course, and we are utilizing the new nursery inside our facility to create the greens,” Defensor said.

Plans of building a new hotel and some luxury villas around the golf course are on the way, but the company reiterated that the developments being made are for the current and future members to appreciate.

“These developments will bring up the value of their shares,” Defensor said.

A study by the company shows that the peak season for golfing falls from January to March for cold weather countries, April to May for local golfers, and October to December. These are the times when the golf course is really busy.

The company plans to employ more than 150 golfing staff to accommodate the growing number of members, with a policy of preferably a golf staff per member every time they play.

With the recent acquisition of large local investors in the area like Ayala Land, expect Subic Bay Freeport to be at the forefront of tourism sites in the country today. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

Read More

Hanafil starts $5-M renovation of Subic golf course

In a simple “dirt pushing” ceremony, Subic golf course operator Hanafil Golf and Tour Inc. began on Wednesday a one-year renovation program designed to upgrade the fairways here to world-class standards and bring in more foreign tourists next year.

Leading the ceremony on Wednesday night at Subic’s Binictican area was Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza, SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga, Hanafil chairman Jay Kim, Hanafil president Benjamin John Defensor III, and Netforce International president Bong Arguelles.

Arreza, who drove a bulldozer at the project site to kick off the dirt pushing rites, described the event as “a momentous occasion” to mark the reconstruction of the prized Subic facility.

“We want to upgrade the golf course here, put it at par with international standards, and place it at the forefront of SBMA’s effort to further enhance the tourism market in Subic,” Arreza said.

“We believe that Subic Golf has proven its capability to bring in more tourists to Subic after its highly-successful junket flight program that brought in more than 1,800 Koreans to play golf in the freeport,” he added.

Arreza also said that the renovation of the Subic golf course will prepare local tourism establishments “for more opportunities coming their way.”

According to Defensor, the $5-million renovation program to be implemented in a year is just part of the overall $48-million development package that Hanafil intends to implement in Subic.

Reiterating Hanafil’s commitment to the SBMA to fulfill its development plans, Defensor said more projects would soon follow after the renovation.

“We are committed. In the bigger picture of things, the golf course will only be one of the attractions that we are going to build,” Defensor said.

Defensor said that Hanafil, which is now one of the largest companies in Subic in terms of committed investment, has contracted out the renovation work to Netforce International, the country's number one golf course builder and designer.

“We chose Netforce, a company which has an extensive experience in building golf courses, because we would also like to support the economy by hiring Filipino companies like Netforce,” Defensor added.

Netforce officials, meanwhile, revealed that in renovating the whole golf course, the company would reshape the existing greens, using paspaplum grass for the greens and Tifton 419 for the fairways. Completion is scheduled for November 2010.

Defensor said the renovation is timed to be completed “just when it starts getting cold in the northern countries.”

Hanafil, which mainly targets golfers from South Korea, will resume its junket flight program immediately after the golf course is fully renovated.

Defensor said the firm’s first junket flight program with Jeju Airlines has proven to be a success, with about 1,800 Koreans participating in three-day golfing holidays organized by Hanafil.

Defensor also said that during the renovation period, the whole 18-hole golf course would be closed “so that we could fully reconstruct the whole area.”

He added that the company is coordinating with Netforce and other construction firms to ensure that golf course employees who would have to be laid off during the renovation stage, could be absorbed by the contractors.

Hanafil is a Philippine corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and is backed by Hanatour, the biggest tour company in South Korea. (SBMA Corporate Communications)

PHOTOS:
[1] SBMA chairman Feliciano Salonga (second from right) and SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza (third from right) join Hanafil officials in launching the $5-million renovation program for the Subic golf course. Also in photo are (from right): Hanafil chairman Jay Kim, Hanafil president Benjamin John Defensor III, SBMA senior deputy administrator for support services Ramon Agregado, SBMA deputy administrator for business development Raul Marcelo, and Netforce president Bong Arguelles.

[2] SBMA administrator Armand Arreza drives a bulldozer during the “dirt pushing” ceremony to start the $5-million renovation program of the Subic Bay golf course.

Read More

Subic golf course partially open despite $48M facelift

Hanafil Golf and Tour Inc. said that the Subic golf course will remain open amid its re-development costing $48 million.

Hanafil Golf chief executive and president Benjamin John Defensor III said the management had decided to open facility after a clamor by members of the Subic Bay Golf and Country Club and local players to at least open nine holes of the 18-hole golf course.

“We want them [members] to enjoy their game even during the rainy season. It is our pleasure to give our utmost services to them,” Defensor said.

“The renovation of the Subic Golf Course into a world-class golf course would be done by phases. We will open holes 1 to 9 but would close the remaining holes for us to renovate the old US Navy golf course,” he added.

He said the massive development project of Subic Golf was part of the agreement between Hanafil and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

“We have scheduled the reconstruction of the Subic Golf Course during the rainy season to take advantage of the minimal number of golfers playing here,” Defensor said.

He said the golf course was just one of the many attractions that Hanafil will build inside this premier Freeport. The company also plans to build a five-star hotel and luxury villas.

“The nursery and the irrigation system are almost completed. These were created in preparation for the reconstruction of the golf course. The nursery is necessary because the greens and fairways of the whole golf course will be replaced,” he said.

Defensor said the new irrigation system was designed to supply water to the golf course, stressing that the system is eco-friendly and uses wastewater for the greens and fairways. (Cecille Garcia, Manila Standard Today)

Read More

Subic golf course rehab begins

A $48-million project to renovate the 18-hole golf course in this free port and turn it into an all-weather facility has begun this month.

But instead of closing the whole facility as announced last month, management has left nine holes open for avid golfers.

According to Benjamin John Defensor III, president and CEO of Hanafil Golf and Tour Inc., which operates the facility, the programmed rehabilitation “will go on as scheduled.”

“We have already renovated some parts of the course, and we have to close half of the facility so that we can fully reconstruct the whole area for the additional nine holes,” Defensor said during the recent awarding ceremony for Hanafil’s “employee versus caddy” tournament, an event that kicked off the rehabilitation project.

However, because the rehabilitation will be undertaken in several phases, Defensor said Holes 1 to 9 will be left open because of an overwhelming demand by members.

“We want them [members] to enjoy their game—and some really want to play even during the rainy season. It is always our pleasure to give our utmost services to them,” he added.

Defensor said earlier the $48-million rehabilitation project will commence during the rainy season to take advantage of the period when there are less players.

The major rehabilitation, he added, would cover a six-year period. It includes an additional nine holes, as well as improvement of the driving range.

The project, Defensor said, is part of Hanafil’s agreement with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which has taken over the facility in 2007 after the former operator reportedly failed to honor its development commitments.

Hanafil is getting ready for the total replacement of several greens and fairways after completing major portions of the nursery and irrigation system projects.

Defensor also said the project is just one of the many attractions Hanafil will build in the Subic Bay Free Port. The company also plans to build a five-star hotel and luxury villas.

As part of its commitment to Subic tourism, the Korean-Filipino joint venture has also initiated early this year a “golf junket” program that has so far brought a total of 18 planeloads of golfers from South Korea for a three-day tour in the free port.

Hanafil, a Philippine corporation registered under the Securities and Exchange Commission, is backed by Hanatour, the biggest tourist agency in South Korea. (Henry Empeno, Business Mirror Online)

Read More

Hanafil to start Subic golf course rehab in June

Construction of additional facilities to transform the 18-hole Subic Bay golf course here into an all-weather championship sporting venue will begin next month when the rainy season starts.

The course, a favorite among golfers from South Korea, will be closed to customers during the construction period, according to Hanafil Golf and Tour Inc. chief executive officer Benjamin John Defensor III.

”We have scheduled the reconstruction of the Subic golf course during the rainy season to take advantage of the period when a minimal number of golfers play here,” Defensor explained.

He added the construction is part of the company’s agreement with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which awarded the operation of the facility to Hanafil late last year.

Hanafil, a Korean-Filipino joint venture backed by Hanatour, Korea’s biggest tourist agency, announced last year its $48-million commitment to redevelop the golf course at Subic’s Binictican area into an all-weather championship course, with full-blown country club amenities.

The firm said the six-year development program includes the construction of nine more holes, a hotel and some villas, and improving the driving range.

Defensor added that after building a new restaurant, acquiring new golf carts and other equipment, Hanafil is about to complete installation of a new irrigation system and establishment of a nursery.

“All these are just preparation for the reconstruction of the golf course. The nursery is necessary because the greens and fairways of the whole golf course will be replaced,” he said.

A typical 18-hole golf course consumes approximately 500,000 gallons of water every day, but the new irrigation system installed by Hanafil is eco-friendly and is designed to use wastewater for the greens and fairways.

“There is absolutely no impact on the underground rivers in the area and will not affect the supply of fresh drinking water in Subic Bay,” Defensor said, adding the expansion of the fairways was meant to eventually turn the Subic course into a venue for international tournaments, as well as to accommodate the increasing number of golfers visiting Subic Bay.

Since the firm’s takeover of the facility last year, the Subic Bay golf course has become the favorite of thousand of Koreans who were brought to Subic under “golf junket” flights organized by Hanafil in January to March this year.

He said the 18 trips from Incheon, Korea, had helped project Subic Bay as “the next big thing” in adventure tourism among big Korean groups.

”The new Subic golf course is just one of the many attractions Hanafil intends to build inside this premier free port. The company is currently making plans to build a five-star hotel and several luxury villas,” Defensor added. (Henry Empeno, Business Mirror)
IN PHOTO -- Hanafil President and CEO Benjamin Defensor III (right) is spearheading the redevelopment of the Subic Bay golf course into an all-weather facility.

Read More

Hanafil to fly in foreign golfers next year

Subic golf course operator Hanafil Golf and Tour Inc. is now preparing to fly in golfers from various parts of the world after the company began the re-development of the golf links here into a venue for professional tourneys.

Hanafil president and CEO Benjamin John Defensor III said the firm will tap an international airline to accommodate “junket flights” for golfers.

”We want to fully utilize the advantage of Subic Bay Freeport's location by using the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) as the entry point for international golfers," Defensor said.

"We are now working out a deal with an international airline to ferry golfers to Subic by January next year," he added.

As planned, the so-called junket flights will be twice a week and using airliners capable of ferrying some 180 passengers, Defensor revealed.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza, meanwhile, said the entry of foreign golfers in Subic would certainly boost Subic’s tourism industry.

“It has been awhile since we had junket flights, which were organized previously by casinos to bring in players from all over Asia. This will be the first time that junket flights will be used to ferry golfers,” he added.

Arreza also expressed optimism that foreign golfers would enjoy playing in Subic, especially since Hanafil had initiated renovation of the Subic golf course to make it at par with some of the world’s best.

Hanafil’s Defensor said the company has recently installed a new irrigation system, built a new restaurant, and acquired new golf carts to upgrade amenities at the 18-hole course. It has also built its own nursery as part of the program to expand the course by an additional nine holes.

Defensor added that the expansion of the fairways was meant to accommodate the growing number of golfers coming into Subic Bay.

He added that the recent opening of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) drew a remarkable increase in the number of golfers playing at Hanafil’s newly-renovated course, especially during long weekends.

Hanafil is a subsidiary of Hanatour, a company listed in both the London Stock Exchange and the Korean Stock Exchange. Hanafil, on the other hand, is a Philippine corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). (SBMA Corporate Communications)

Read More