A ₱4.135-billion multi-modal logistics and transport hub will soon rise
in this premier Freeport, as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Subic Bay Freeport Grain Terminal Services, Inc. (SBFGTSI) partnered to construct this project.
Senior Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Renato Lee III
and SBFGTSI Executive Vice President Lester C. Valdes recently signed the lease
contracts and amendment to the existing contracts at the SBMA Corporate
Boardroom on May 28, 2025.
According to Lee, the construction of the multi-modal logistics and
transport hub will integrate sections along San Bernardino Road within the Subic
Port District and parts of the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA).
The committed investment for the proposed development of these areas
includes P660-million for Lot 4, P1.8-billion for Lot 5, P801-million for Lot
6, P20-million for Lot 7, and P854-million for Lot 8.
These developments include a petroleum tank farm, grain storage, an
airport logistics hub, dry storage and warehouse facilities, cold storage
areas, a commercial and hospitality hub for cruise ships, and a new wharf for
ultra-large cruise ships.
This is also seen to generate employment for 798 workers.
“This is a huge step for Subic Bay Freeport as it reaches its goal to
have a more modern air and seaport which are expected to boost the port’s
capacity, increase competitiveness, and generate more revenue,” Lee said.
Subic’s port
development program aligns with the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) Development
initiative of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose projects are expected to be
completed by the end of his term in 2028. These development projects inside the Subic Bay Freeport zone are part of the “Build
Better More” project of President Marcos’ administration. (MPD-SBMA)
The
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Subic Bay Freeport Grain Terminal Services
Incorporated (SBFGTSI) conducted a simulation exercise (SimEx) at the latter’s
premises inside this premier Freeport on April 4, 2025.
According to
SBMA Seaport Department SimEx Director Diego P. Aviles, the activity dubbed
“Responding to Active Shooter and Barricaded Scenario” was conducted to test
procedures and contingency plans for security and safety response operations of
both the SBMA and SBFGTSI.
“This
exercise offers a unique opportunity for all participants to carry out response
operations. Our objective is to test the security communication protocol in
response to an active shooter and barricaded incident,” Aviles said.
He added that
the SimEx also aims to assess coordination between security personnel and
Emergency Response Units of SBFGTSI and the Law Enforcement Department (LED),
and to evaluate the effectiveness and readiness of handling such emergencies
following the Port Facility Security Plan.
Part of the exercise
was conducted to test the response capabilities of the SBMA Seaport Department,
and the LED, specifically the Special Weapons and Tactics team,
Traffic Branch, and K-9 Unit, as well as the Public Health and Safety
Department in terms of emergency response.
Aviles, along
with SBFGTSI Terminal Manager Engr. Carlito Faustino and SBFGTSI port facility
safety officer Gilbert Espiel, reiterated that this exercise offers a unique
opportunity for all participants to carry out response operations and to test
procedures and contingency plans on security, safety, and any emergency
response operations.
“This exercise
would not have been made possible without the collaboration between the SBFGTSI
and SBMA,” Aviles said. (MPD-SBMA)
Newly installed Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and
Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño has vowed to take good care of the agency and
its people.
This was his statement during a press briefing at the SBMA
administration building on Monday. The Agency Chief shared that he was given
the mandate by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to look into the needs of Subic
Freeport stakeholders and help resolve problems of the business communities
inside.
“The President also instructed me to steer Subic Bay Freeport to the
next level, which means go forward. With the help of the Board of Directors,
who are all very professional, I believe that we can achieve that goal
hand-in-hand,” Aliño added.
Aliño replaced former Pandan, Antique Mayor Jonathan D. Tan as the
chairman and administrator of the government owned and controlled corporation
(GOCC) this month, with his promotion as the Senior Undersecretary of the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The new chief took his oath of office before President Marcos on
January 12 at Malacañan Palace.
“In my case, I am 73 years old, the legacy I want to leave is a good
mark, all for the glory of God, country, and for SBMA, and for its people who
have significantly helped me. I am also leaving this good mark for my family. I
promised them that after my stint, regardless of time, hindi nila ako
ikahihiya. For me its very important,” he said.
A devout Catholic with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical
Engineering from the De La Salle University, Aliño was also the former chairman
and president of the STAR Group of Companies which offers port operations
services for bulk and break-bulk cargo with Subic Bay as one of its locations,
Grain Terminal Services Inc and sister company Mega Subic Terminal Services Inc
.
Aside from his achievements in port operations, Aliño was also
involved in other business industries such as supply chain, power and energy,
construction, industrial trading, entertainment and tourism.
The new SBMA head was also chairman of the Subic Bay Yacht Club from
2015 to 2018 and in 2023. He also remains active in civic and non-government
organizations like the Marinducare Foundation, a group providing livelihood and
civic assistance to poor communities in Marinduque, the hometown of Aliño’s
parents. (MPD-SBMA)
A man who worked as maintenance staff at the Subic Bay Freeport Grain Terminal here was found dead beside his bed at the company barracks on Friday.
Jimmy Gonzaga Ocaña Jr., 40 years old, was found lifeless by his co-workers around 5:45 a.m. on May 1, according to initial reports by the Intelligence and Investigation Office (IIO) of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
The victim was a resident of Marikina City, who worked for the company operating a grain terminal at the Cubi Point here.
Ocaña was staying in the barracks, as he was caught in the lockdown under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and could not go back to his hometown, it was learned.
The SBMA has required companies authorized to operate under the ECQ to provide accommodations inside the Freeport for their workers.
The SBMA Public Health and Safety Department (PHSD), meanwhile, ruled out that it was Covid-19 related since he did not show any symptom like fever or cough, and had no history of travel or exposure.
Ocaña had reportedly consulted a doctor about some pain in his leg, and was prescribed some pain killer before being sent home.
Co-workers said he again complained about leg pain while having dinner Thursday night and later asked for help in going up the short flight of stairs to their barracks.
They added that when they woke up the next day, they saw Ocaña lying face down beside his bed. When they tried to wake him up, the victim was no longer responding.
His co-workers then called the attention of company officials who called the SBMA Law Enforcement Department for help.
Personnel from the SBMA PHSD also arrived and checked on the victim, but the attending physician declared that Ocaña was already dead.
The Philippine National Police in Morong, Bataan has said there was no apparent foul play in the death of the victim. (MPD-SBMA)
PHOTO: The workers’ barracks is cordoned off during an investigation into Ocaña’s death
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has conferred its first Mabuhay Business Awards to 15 business locators here who have strengthened the local economy and contributed significantly to the growth of the country’s gross domestic product.
Organized by the Office of the Chairman and Administrator and the SBMA Business Group, the Mabuhay Business Awards were given to the top 15 locators whose combined investments have reached a total of US$3 billion and together have employed over 40,000 workers.
“These locators have breathed life into the local economy,” said SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia. “They have transformed vacant parcels of land into busy commercial establishments and factories; a target range into a leading shipbuilding facility in the world; and a marsh land into a hi-tech manufacturing facility producing high value electronic components used by global brands.”
“The awards we’re giving them are just a small measure of our appreciation in helping build the Subic Bay Freeport into what it is now,” Garcia added.
According to SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business Ronnie Yambao, the 15 investor-awardees were chosen from the 1,536 Freeport-registered companies based on their actual investments, jobs generated, and multiplier effect caused by the locators’ business operations.
For the general business sector, the awardees were: Honeywell Ceasa (Subic Bay) Co., Inc., a P435-million firm providing repair and overhaul of aircraft wheels, brakes and other aircraft equipment; Petron Freeport Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petron Corp., with P422-million investment in Subic; and Anglo Asia Commodities Corp., a P350-million investment engaged in export/import, warehousing, and transshipment of general cargoes and merchandise.
For the information and communication technology sector, the awardees were: PLDT Subic Telecom Inc., a P550-million project that provides telecommunications services in the Freeport; S-Corp Philippines, Inc., a P166-million company with 1,800 workers in the field of technology services; and Moon Kkang Talk, Inc., a P97-million investment with 173 workers that provides online direct response marketing, live order taking services, on-line learning center, among others.
For the leisure sector, those cited were: Subic Bay Town Center, Inc., with investment of P1.6-billion for the operation of the Harbor Point Mall; Royal Duty Shops Inc., also a P1.6-billion investment that engages in retail business; and Fertuna Holdings Corp, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cosco Capital Inc., with P554M million committed investment in the field of retail, real estate, liquor distribution and other specialty business.
For the logistics sector: Philippine Coastal Storage and Pipeline Corp., with P3.4-billion worth of investment in fuel terminal and storage tank farm that can hold 4.6 million barrels of petroleum and petroleum-related products; Subic Bay International Terminal Corp., a P906-million company that manages and operates the New Container Terminal 1 and is committed to further develop the facilities; and Subic Bay Freeport Grain Terminal Services, Inc., with investment of P683 million for bulk grain handling for Central and Northern Luzon grain importers.
Then for the manufacturing and maritime sector, the awardees were: Hanjin Heavy Industries Inc., Phil., Subic’s biggest investor with over US$2 billion investment and a total of 33,863 workers; Sanyo Denki Phils., Inc., a P3.2-billion company with 3,500 workers engaged in the manufacture of electric machineries, appliances and computer and electronic wares; and Tong Lung Phils. Metal Industry Co., Inc., which has over P2.1 billion in investments and over 2,100 workers for the manufacture of residential and commercial locksets and door closer.
The Subic Bay Freeport and the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga remain to be major contributors to the country’s economic development, as their combined export values last year provided about 11 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The SBMA said that Subic and Clark’s combined export value last year amounted to around US$6 billion and was very significant to the gross regional domestic product (GRDP), which contributed 11 percent to the Philippine GDP. (RAV/MPD-SBMA) PHOTO: SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia, along with other SBMA officials, joins locator-awardees during the first SBMA Mabuhay Business Awards ceremony held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on December 11, 2015. Fifteen of the biggest business locators here were recognized for their significant contribution in strengthening the local economy and to the growth of the country’s gross domestic product. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)
