Japan finalizes the Subic Bay Regional Development Masterplan

The Department of Finance (DOF), on Tuesday (April 26), unveiled the Subic Bay Regional Development Master Plan which was finalized with the assistance of a survey mission team of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The master plan will serve as a blueprint to maximize the economic development potentials of the Subic Bay and its surrounding areas.

The joint effort of the Philippines and Japan to formulate a regional development master plan for Subic Bay commenced with the decision by the two countries’ leaders in November 2019–and the Memorandum of Cooperation to that effect in Hakone, Japan, in December 2019.

The finalized Master Plan was furnished by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. Kazuhiko Koshikawa, to Secretary Dominguez on April 7 in Manila.

During Secretary Dominguez’s meeting on April 25 with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Hon. Hayashi Yoshimasa, both sides welcomed the successful completion of the Master Plan that was yet another epitome of bilateral strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan.

“We deeply appreciate the Japanese Government’s close coordination and expeditious fulfillment of the commitment to the Subic Bay development masterplan, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic during its preparation,” said Secretary Dominguez.

The Master Plan envisages Subic Bay region’s economic future and concrete development proposals in both public and private sectors, with which the Philippine Government unlocks the full potentials of Subic Bay, including the port capacity and the connectivity with its hinterlands, with a view to helping continued efforts to decongest Metro Manila.

Minister Hayashi expressed hope that the publication of the Master Plan proves to be conducive to the enhancement of regional connectivity and coast guard capabilities of the Philippines.

The Philippines and Japan signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Subic Bay Regional Development in December 2019 with the belief that such cooperation would serve both countries’ common interests.

To be specific, the Japanese side rendered technical support to the formulation of the Subic Bay Regional Development Master Plan that maximizes the economic development potentials of the Subic Bay by harmonizing logistics, industry and living functions, as well as existing assets and new investments.

The finalized master plan has covered possible development projects in the fields of road network for Olongapo’s Central Business District and Subic Bay West Coast, logistics terminals such as Alava Wharf, among others, and public utilities such as the Philippine Coast Guard’s new support facilities.

To date, Japan remains to be the country’s top Official Development Assistance (ODA) partner, with a net loan commitment of about USD 10.02 billion, and grant amount of USD 181.15 million, accounting for 31.84 percent of the country’s total ODA portfolio. (SNL)

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Japan, Philippines to cooperate on development plan for Subic Bay

Japan will help the Philippines redevelop the former U.S. naval base at Subic Bay, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

Philippines Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi confirmed the plans after they met in Manila on Thursday (January 9). The pair agreed to cooperate in “drawing up a master plan, which would bring out potential for economic development in the Subic Bay area,” according to a Japanese government statement.

Subic Bay was once home to thousands of U.S. sailors and their families before the Navy vacated its bases there in 1992. It’s still a regular port call for U.S. warships and for Marines who practice beach landings nearby in Zambales province.

The strategic harbor’s importance has grown amid Chinese efforts to build military facilities on artificial islands and claim sovereignty over territory to the west in the South China Sea.

Last June, the U.S. Navy announced it was “exploring the viability of a shipyard in Subic Bay for use as a potential repair and maintenance facility.”

The shipyard’s owner, Hanjin Philippines, declared bankruptcy earlier in 2019 owing $900 million to South Korean creditors. A pair of Chinese firms subsequently expressed an interest in buying the facility, sparking alarm in some quarters.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency will help develop the Subic Bay plan, which aims to develop knowledge-based industries, logistics terminals, public utilities and roads to grow the local economy, Bloomberg reported Jan. 9. (Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes)

https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/japan-philippines-to-cooperate-on-development-plan-for-us-navy-s-former-home-at-subic-bay-1.614696

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Japan pledges assistance for Subic Bay master plan

Japan has pledged to extend technical assistance for the development of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and its surrounding areas, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

In a statement, the DOF said Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has conveyed Japan’s commitment to provide assistance in crafting a master plan for the regional development of Subic Bay.

This happened during their bilateral meeting on Monday on the sidelines of the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

“The two leaders affirmed that the Japanese assistance is a testament to the deepening strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines,” the DOF said.

According to the DOF, the proposed master plan would outline possible projects in Subic Bay and its surrounding areas, particularly in the fields of road network development, logistics terminal development, disaster risk management and other public utilities development.

Japan remains to be the top provider of official development assistance (ODA) loans and grants to the Philippines, totaling $8.26 billion as of December 2018. This accounts for 46 percent of the country’s total ODA loan portfolio.

Since 2016, the DOF said Manila and Tokyo have signed 10 loan agreements, which provide Japanese funding support for big-ticket infrastructure projects under the Duterte administration’s Build Build Build program. (Mary Grace Padin, Philippine Star)

PHOTO:

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.


https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/11/08/1966831/japan-pledges-assistance-subic-bay-master-plan

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Central Luzon investment hub bill hurdles bicam

A bill creating the Regional Investment and Infrastructure Coordinating Hub (RICH) for Central Luzon has been approved by the Bicameral Conference Committee.

The measure intends to establish RICH, in place of the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council, as the body to lead infrastructure development in Central Luzon.

RICH’s mission also includes to “effectively address bottlenecks and decongest Metro Manila, lay the foundation for long-term growth of Central Luzon and increase the productivity of the people.”

The Bicameral Conference Committee, presided over by Senator Richard J. Gordon and North Cotabato 1st district Rep. Jesus N. Sacdalan, adopted and approved on Dec. 10 Senate Bill No. 1997, subject to amendments.

In its last version, the bill proposed that the Central Luzon Investment Corridor Master Plan be developed by the RICH Board of Directors, in coordination with local government units and stakeholders.

CLIC will, among others, incorporate existing plans created for the development of the Subic-Clark and Tarlac area.

The Master Plan will also “include the provision of adequate and affordable housing facilities within the Special Economic or Freeport Zone.”

The measure also proposes to establish a One Stop Shop that will facilitate the registration of enterprises in Central Luzon in coordination with RICH, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Clark Development Corp. and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. (Charmaine A. Tadalan, BusinessWorld)

https://www.bworldonline.com/central-luzon-investment-hub-bill-hurdles-bicam/

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SBMA shelves Redondo industrial estate project

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has temporarily set aside the development program for the Redondo Peninsula following the collapse of an agreement with a firm that proposed the construction of an industrial estate and solar farm in the area.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the agency’s Board of Directors has decided to take a step back and called for the development of a master plan for the entire Redondo Peninsula before opening it up again to investors.

“We’re basically back to square one, because the project proponent was not able to honor the commitments under its very own proposal,” Eisma said.

“The SBMA is still open to receiving proposals though, should these be consistent with the SBMA’s objective of developing Redondo into an industrial and maritime hub,” she added.

The SBMA Board of Directors had earlier revoked the lease and development agreement (LDA) with Dynamic Konstruk International Eco Builders Corp. (DKIEBC), invoking an automatic revocation clause under the agreement in case the proponent did not meet its obligations.

Eisma said that despite several extensions given by SBMA, DKIEBC still failed to deliver the required advance rentals and security deposit, thus leaving the Subic agency with no other recourse but to revoke the contract.

According to SBMA records, Dynamic Konstruk initially proposed in May 2016 to develop 982 hectares of land at the Redondo Peninsula, which also hosts the Hanjin shipyard and the coal-fired thermal plant project of Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc.

Calling the project “Redondo 200MW Solar Farm and Eco Dynamic Industrial City”, DKIEBC said it will devote 400 hectares of the project site to a solar-power generation farm and 582 hectares to an industrial hub.

During negotiations for the project’s 50-year lease, however, it became apparent that DKIEBC, a certified “A” PCAB licensee, as well as its partners, lacked adequate experience in solar power generation. It also seemed not to have enough funding to back up its US$798-million investment commitment.

Eisma said the SBMA Board required a P2.2-billion paid-up capital, and DKIEBC made a counter-offer to pay upfront the amount of P472 million, which is equivalent to 50 percent of its rental and security deposits.

“When DKIEBC also failed to honor this commitment, the project was considered revoked pursuant to a resolution of the SBMA Board,” Eisma added.

As of now, the SBMA has stopped dealing with the company on the aborted project. It had also warned the public on reports that some parties are still seeking investors to fund the project despite official revocation by the agency.

“This is already a closed issue. Anybody seeking funds for the Redondo industrial city and solar farm project is probably doing some scam operation, so we urge everyone to beware,” Eisma concluded. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

Perspective of the supposed development project proposed by Dynamic Konstruct at the Redondo Peninsula in Subic Bay Freport.

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SBMA urges LGUs to start developing industrial parks as extension of the Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has urged local government units (LGUs) surrounding the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) to start developing industrial parks due to increasing demand for bigger land areas from new investors.

In a meeting with municipal mayors and other officials and members of the SBMA Board of Directors, SBMA Administrator Wilma Amy Eisma suggested that each contiguous LGU should start developing industrial parks to accommodate local and foreign investors.

 Eisma said there is practically no more land space available for new investors who are looking for large areas for their new facilities inside the fenced areas, compelling the SBMA to endorse them to other areas in Clark or Bataan and lose supposedly additional revenue for Subic. Fenced areas refer to vicinities formerly occupied by the US Naval Base.

The proposal to extend the fenced area to contiguous LGUs is contained in Executive Order 675 which took effect as early as November 2007, amending EO97-A allowing local government unit officials, through the approval of the Sangguniang Panglungsod or Pambayan, to declare any parts of their jurisdiction as additional secured areas or additional areas of the Subic Bay Special Economic and Freeport Zone (SSEFPZ) which shall be organized, administered, managed and operated directly by the SBMA.

“Unless the LGUs start planning for the extension of the fenced areas now, LGU shares from SBMA may be affected. If we could not accept new investors, the LGU shares from SBMA would not improve and may even diminish,” she noted.

She stated that the extension of the fenced areas may not be implemented during her term, but it would be beneficial if the LGUs start drafting their respective master plans.

The SBMA Administrator urged the local officials not to wait for SBMA to act on it. “Please do not wait for us to act. The initiatives must start from the LGUs and we, in SBMA, are here to help and assist in planning,” she said.

Eisma lauded San Antonio Mayor Estela Antipolo who already started planning for the development of some 10,000 hectares of land and water areas which are to be converted into the San Antonio Economic Development Area that will form part of the extension of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Through the San Antonio Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 13-080 which was passed in November 2013, parts of Sitio Silangin, Nagsasa and Talisayin, all located at the Redondo Peninsula will be granted tax and duty free privileges being an extension of the Subic Freeport.

SBMA is also expecting the same initiatives from the city of Olongapo, and the municipalities of Subic, Castillejos and San Marcelino in Zambales, and Morong, Dinalupihan and Hermosa in Bataan.

Earlier, SBMA distributed among the eight contiguous LGUs a total of P150. 47 Million in revenue shares for the second semester of 2016 which is 6.414% higher than the P141.397 million of first semester of 2015.

The LGU shares were derived from the five per cent (5%) of gross revenue paid to SBMA by locators and investors operating inside Subic Freeport. From the five percent GRT, three per cent goes to the national treasury, while the two per cent (2%) are distributed by SBMA among the eight LGUs for their community development projects including health, education, peace and order, and livelihood programs to enable these communities keep pace with developments in the special economic zone.

For the said semester, Olongapo City remains the highest recipient of the revenue share with P35.1 million, followed by the municipality of Subic with P22.96 million and Dinalupihan with P18.73 million.

Other municipalities were San Marcelino, P18.05M; Hermosa, P15.65M; Castillejos, P14M; Morong, P13.07M, and San Antonio, P12.92M. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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ICTSI offers Subic port to ease Port of Manila congestion

THE International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), operator of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), is renewing its proposal of an infrastructure “master plan” to the Duterte administration to improve the flow of trade in the country’s key port.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the Management Association of the Philippines’ (MAP) 14th International CEO Conference, ICTSI Senior Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific Operations Christian Gonzalez suggested a holistic approach to facilitate goods inflow into the country.

Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI Senior Vice President and Asia Pacific Region Head

“We all need roads, we know how many cars there are in the streets and public transportation needs to be improved. What we’ve heard from the current government is positive because they intend to build more roads, but they need to fast-track it. The critical one is really the roads,” Gonzalez said.

The establishment of a proper logistics network should be looked at outside of Metro Manila, such as in Subic port, where ICTSI operates Terminals 1 and 2 through its subsidiaries.

Aside from road infrastructure, creation of inland facilties, such as warehouses, can incentivize more businesses to use the Subic port instead of the crowded Manila port. These initiatives can encourage the shift of more cargo from the Port of Manila to Subic.

Last year ICTSI moved 100,0000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) of cargo previously accommodated in Manila, to Subic. The Subic port’s installed capacity is at 600,000 TEUs.

The port operator is constrained from moving more because of the disjointed infrastructure network in the area.

Creating alternative modes to deliver cargo, such as water transport, and a dedicated railway track for cargo to connect Subic and Bataan, is also a welcome move, he said.

“If the government wants to talk about this, we are open to it,” Gonzalez said. (Catherine Pillas, BusinessMirror)

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/2016/09/06/ictsi-offers-subic-port-to-ease-port-of-manila-congestion/

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Subic-Clark rail, phase-out of old ships in DOTr plan

SPEAKING at a joint meeting of the Philippine International Seafreight Forwarders Association (PISFA) and the Aircargo Forwarders Association of the Philippines on August 11, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade outlined his development plan for the maritime sector over the next six years.

The plan include projects to ease reliance on the Port of Manila, maximize the use of Subic, and to phase out the commercial use of old and wooden-hulled ships. The long-term objective, he said, was to develop a 30-year transportation plan for the country.

Much of the plan focused on relieving Metro Manila traffic congestion and improving public transportation infrastructure, but Tugade did offer several key initiatives for the shipping sector.

To relieve reliance on Manila and South Luzon ports—particularly Batangas, which is increasingly being used by locators in the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas industrial zones south of Metro Manila—Tugade encouraged shippers to use rail links, barges, and roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) networks to distribute shipments to other terminals.

Currently, a project to upgrade ro-ro ports along a route stretching from Batangas to Cagayan de Oro, called the Central Spine Roll-on/Roll-off project, is under preliminary study and development by the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center.

Another significant initiative Tugade said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is studying is connecting the Subic port with the airport at Clark with a rail link. “The advantage of Subic as a seaport will be the advantage of Clark as an airport, and the advantage of Clark as an airport will be the advantage of Subic as a seaport,” Tugade said expansively, pointing out that the linkage would give freight forwarders in either location increased flexibility.

In order to improve maritime safety, Tugade also said the DOTr plans to phase out wood-hulled commercial ships and vessels more than 35 years old. He stressed, however, that the government would not do so without offering assistance, such as in the form of low-cost financing, to businesses that would be affected by the move. (Ben Kritz, Manila Times)

PHOTO:
The port of Subic (left) and Clark International Airport (right)

http://www.manilatimes.net/subic-clark-rail-phase-out-of-old-ships-in-dotr-plan/280836/

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SBMA expands subic freeport area to accommodate new ship builders

To maximize the land use potentials of the Subic Freeport, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is now expanding the Subic territory into other nearby areas to accommodate new ship builders.

SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia has disclosed this as part of the six-point strategic plan to fully turn the agency's direction towards "building the new Subic" during his recent State of the Freeport Address (SOFA).

According to Garcia, the Subic territory is being expanded to the Redondo Peninsula while a similar expansion is being made in Hermosa, Bataan to accommodate new ship builders. Other areas are being eyed to be offered to prospective investors also.

Subic currently hosts the sprawling $1.7 billion shipbuilding facility of Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Philippine Inc., the local unit of Korea's shipbuilding giant Hanjin.
Garcia's six thrusts to develop the freeport are: to maximize the land use potential of the Freeport; aggressively pursue the use of Subic as alternate port to decongest Manila; develop the airport for general aviation, aircraft repair, jet charters and other allied aviation activities; fully exploit tourism potential by creating new attractions and destinations, promoting MICE, sports and theme parks to attract more tourists; invest in new equipment and infrastructure needed to support SBMA's strategic initiatives; and improve the agency's financial performance further to provide funds for the strategic plan.

Garcia said that of the six thrusts, the development of Subic tourism is expected to have full sway, as most of the projects planned this year are tourism-related.
He noted that in December last year, the Subic Bay Freeport, and the entire province of Zambales in general, was identified by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as one of the top destinations in the country due to its wide array of quality-standard tourist facilities and the level of visitation it generated from local and foreign tourists.

The recognition, Garcia said, was attributed to the 513% increase in the number of leisure-related new and expansion projects in 2012 led by the Ayala Land's Harbor Point Mall.

Prior to this, DOT-Region III also chose the Subic Bay Freeport as "Premier Convention Capital of Central Luzon." This milestone, Garcia added, was achieved after Subic recorded 293 meetings, incentives, conventions and events (MICE) held in the Freeport in 2012, surpassing the 141 MICE record in 2011 or an increase of 108%.

The 2012 MICE events in the Subic Freeport recorded a total of 129,000 participants, or a 20% increase over the 2011 figures.

Meanwhile, SBMA's aggressive marketing of the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) paved the entry of Astro Air International, Inc. which will open the Taiwan-Subic-Taiwan and Subic-Boracay-Subic commercial routes starting this June.

In addition, the annual Balikatan exercises will be held at the SBIA's southwest and southeast aprons, while another portion of the airport will be occupied by the Department of National Defense under commercial terms. (Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat, Manila Bulletin)

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Redeveloped Subic airport to raise P150B investments

Redeveloping the Subic Airport site into a family-oriented tourism facility will raise investments of over P150 billion, according to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Moe Villamor, chief of staff of SBMA administrator Robert Garcia, in a presentation before government agencies about the Philippine Investment Promotion Plan, said the SBMA is pushing for the redevelopment of the 200-hectare property which had been largely unused after the pullout of Federal Express in February 2009.

SBMA wants the airport redeveloped since Clark, just 30 minutes away, is now being promoted as the country’s premier airport.

Tourism is the emerging industry in Subic, according to Villamor.

Villamor said the project is still under consideration of the Office of the President and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“We have some indicative plans on what we believe should be the layout. We have our own environmental impact study,” he said.

He added: “We are willing to coordinate with the appropriate agencies. But if the President says there is some other use for it, or if he says to maintain the facility, we are going to back off.”

Villamor said following the withdrawal of the FedEx Asia Pacific hub – which moved to Guangzhou in China – the Subic airport is hardly being used, mostly serving general aviation and flight training, and is not making as much money.

There are about 22 locators at the airport.

FedEx operated its AsiaOne hub in Subic for 13 years.

SBMA had been looking for a more viable use for the airport since 2010 as it had to shoulder up to P250 million annually to have the airport running, of which P150 million went to debt service and another P100 million to maintenance costs.

To break even, the SBMA had said in the past, the airport should be able to mount 12 to 15 flights a day.

The airport served as a secondary airport and the main diversion airport of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. This airport used to be the Naval Air Station Cubi Point of the United States Navy. .(Malaya Business Insight)

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Garcia bares Subic tourism masterplan

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is aiming to model the Subic Freeport after Singapore’s Sentosa Island in order to make it a truly viable world-class tourist destination.

SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia said during the Third Planning and Development Conference on Rural Tourism held here recently that the SBMA is conducting feasibility studies on the conversion of the Subic Bay International Airport into an integrated family resort similar to Sentosa.

“This is the centerpiece of our tourism program,” he said, pointing out that the conversion could bring in millions of foreign tourists to Subic.

He pointed out that Sentosa Island alone is responsible for bringing in 20 million visitors to Singapore and expressed hope that building a Sentosa-like theme park here will generate the same number of tourists for Subic.

“Remember that the target of the Aquino administration is to draw 10 million tourists by 2016. However, if we can build a world-class iconic tourist destination just imagine how many million tourists it would bring in,” he said.

Garcia also revealed that the SBMA will enhance its eco-tourism program and capitalize on existing nature-themed parks here like the Ocean Adventure Marine Park, Treetop Adventure, and Zoobic Safari.
“These three theme parks are responsible for bringing over 1.2 million tourists last year,” he said.

He added that Subic has other tourist attractions that let tourists enjoy horseback riding, trekking, and camping.

Apart from local tourists, Garcia said that Subic’s eco-based tourism is attracting more foreign visitors, as evidenced by the recent visit of a UK-based cruise ship, whose passengers were awed by Subic’s biodiversity and the culture of its indigenous Ayta tribe.

He also said that Subic is now well-prepared to host various international sporting events since the Freeport has the facilities and the manpower needed in staging events like the Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon on June 24 and the recent Subic International Triathlon held on May 5-6. “In fact, many triathletes actually live here in Subic because they love to train here in the natural environment that we have,” he added.

Garcia also noted that because of its well-protected bay, Subic is able to host different water sport events so that it is now being regarded as the sailing capital of the Philippines, after serving as venue for events such as the Commodore’s Cup, which is part of the Asian sailing circuit competition.

In his message, Garcia also invited the delegates to see what Subic has to offer and expressed support to the Subic-based International School for Sustainable Tourism (ISST), which organized the conference.

“SBMA always stands ready to constantly promote eco-tourism. That’s why we are fully supporting the international school headed by Dr. Mina Gabor to see in what way we can further promote Subic as an eco-tourism center, considering the unique environment that Subic has compared to many other places in the Philippines,” he said.

Noting the international delegates who participated in the conference, Garcia then expressed hope that they would be able to share with the SBMA their experiences in the promotion and management of biodiversity and eco-tourism areas. (FMD/MPD'SBMA)

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SBMA mulls redevelopment of Subic airport into world-class tourism facility

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is considering the possibility of turning the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) into a major world-class tourism destination.

According to SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, the operation and maintenance of the Subic airport cost SBMA huge money, leading the SBMA to think of sustainable alternatives like converting it into an integrated family-oriented tourism facility.

Garcia said there are compelling reasons behind the idea to redevelop the SBIA, which he admitted is the most challenging concern the SBMA is facing.

“The Subic airport is superfluous because of Clark, and it is losing. And lastly, it is one of the last remaining prime real estate assets of SBMA,” he reasoned out.

“Huge problems require huge actions for huge solutions. The plan is very bold and very ambitious, but with the support of everyone, this plan will come through,” Garcia added.

The SBMA official also noted that the agency will not spend a single peso on the project because it will be implemented through a joint venture where SBMA will use the value of the land, currently occupied by the airport, as capital.

Since the project requires a big amount of money, the SBMA is hoping to bid the project internationally to attain international standards for the plan and design, he said.

Garcia explained that the basic idea is to turn the airport into something like Sentosa, a popular family-oriented resort in Singapore. The redeveloped SBIA will still be accessible because Subic is now just 45 minutes away from the international airport at the Clark Freeport because of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

The planned leisure complex will house at least two or three international theme parks, a new golf course, duty free shops, hotels and casino, an entertainment complex, a promenade, and a new marina and yacht club, among others.

“The opportunities that exist today are very tremendous, believe me,” Garcia said. “And with the help of every hand, our ambition of turning our airport into a major international tourism destination will come true.” (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA bares bold strategy to make Subic top trade & tourism destination

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has bared a five-year strategic plan designed to generate more employment and investment opportunities in this free port.

In his first State of the Freeport Address (SOFA), SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto V. Garcia said that for the next five years, the agency will implement an audacious development program to take advantage of existing opportunities and to maximize Subic’s potentials.

“Until the end of our term in SBMA, in the next five years, we will be working on this very exciting plan, a very ambitious plan that we believe will turn Subic into a place that we will be proud of,” Garcia said.

Among the strategies the SBMA will be implementing under this plan is the development of tourism niche markets, which is envisioned to turn the Subic Freeport into a major tourism destination in the Philippines.

Garcia said the SBMA will also exert all efforts to make Subic the Theme Park Capital of the Philippines, a top sports tourism destination, an eco-tourism attraction, and a cruise ship playground.

Garcia also cited as a good start the arrival in Subic last week of the London-based MV Spirit of Adventure, the first cruise ship to arrive here this year with 378 passengers on board, mostly Europeans.

“Tourism Sec. Robert Jimenez specifically told me that Subic will become a cruise ship destination. And that is true because all of the passengers expressed their happiness in coming here, especially after seeing our rich eco-tourism facilities,” Garcia said.

The SBMA official also said the SBMA will enhance the promotion of maritime businesses here by getting the support of the Department of Transportation and Communications to attract maritime logistics players to come to Subic, maximizing the Vale ore transshipment project, and developing Subic as home base for super yachts.

Garcia’s five-year plan also calls for the development of various residential types for specific markets, such as high-end residences, middle-class housing and workers’ dormitories.

The SBMA will also shift from merely being a landlord to being a developer, Garcia said, saying the agency will develop unutilized and idle properties, and will improve the ease and competitive cost of doing businesses in Subic.

Garcia said the most challenging strategy is the conversion of the Subic Bay International Airport into an integrated family-oriented tourist destination like the Sentosa, a family-oriented resort in Singapore.

“Basically, the idea is to turn the airport into world-class tourism destination with international theme parks, new golf course, duty free shops, hotels and casino entertainment complex among others,” Garcia explained.

“The opportunities that exist today are very tremendous, believe me. And our plan is very bold and very ambitious but with the support of everyone, this plan will come true,” he added.

The SOFA, an annual activity here sponsored by the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC), was attended by Olongapo City Mayor James Gordon, Jr. and city councilors, Zambales Vice-Gov. Ramon Lacbain III, SBFCC officials and members, members of the SBMA Board of Directors, SBMA employees, and officials and workers from various Freeport companies. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia stresses a point during his State of the Freeport Address recently, wherein he unveiled a bold Five-Year Strategic Plan to transform Subic into a thriving maritime, ecotourism and high-tech industrial center.

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Study on Subic-Clark-Batangas logistics corridor completed

MANILA, Philippines - The pre-feasibility study leading to the drawing up of a master plan making the Subic-Clark-Batangas corridor into a logistics corridor that positions Luzon as an international transshipment point in Asia has been completed.

This was announced by National Competitiveness Council (NCC) private sector chairman Cesar Bautista.

Ambassador Bautista said the initial study lays down the term of reference and scope of a more detailed study whose main output is a master plan for a seamless intermodal logistics corridor across the three fastest growing regions in Luzon.

The master plan will take another one and a half year to complete, Bautista said.

“The Subic-Clark-Batangas region, despite its considerable potential for being the principal logistics hub in the country, has experienced very limited growth due to inefficient logistics operations. As such, an integrated logistics program aimed specifically at increasing trade volumes, agricultural production as well as the diversification of economic activities is needed. This now comes in the form of a Subic-Clark-Batangas Intermodal Logistics Corridor Master Plan,” The study pointed out.

It noted that President Arroyo first raised the idea in 2007 when she declared that Luzon should be developed as a major transshipment and logistics hub in Asia. Since then, several big-ticket infrastructure projects interconnecting the corridor have been completed including the upgrading of the south and north expressways, opening of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and other projects.

“It is also important to address major transport policy issues critical to the development of the corridor,” the study stressed.

The corridor provides specialized industries and processing activities in Subic and Clark Special Economic Zones, textile, garments and consumer electronics factories in the Calabarzon, prime agricultural production south and north of Manila and port related industries in Batangas.

The corridor now accounts for 80 percent of the national cargo throughput in the country and about half of yearly economic output.

In pushing hard for the master plan, Ambassador Bautista said that it is not enough that one announces it is building a new superhighway from Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City to Tuguegarao, Cagayan or a bullet train from Manila to Laoag without taking into consideration if those projects will bring down costs of shipping goods.

The master plan was envisioned not only to address the high cost of shipping goods across Luzon but between the island and other ports in the country and in the Asian region.

The initial study suggested that building a logistics corridor will have to be pushed in stages, the first of which will be the building of a transport corridor. Second stage will be a multimodal corridor that integrates land, sea and air transportation plus storage and other support facilities then into a logistics and later, an economic corridor.

“The whole point is to develop the corridor as an alternative transshipment hub in Asia and to open up new economic activities towards the eastern seaboard of Luzon,” Bautista pointed out.

So far, he added, there have been so many plans and programs including unsolicited proposals on building roads and railway systems but these have not been integrated into a master plan designed to speed up economic growth in Luzon and the rest of the country. (Philexport News and Features )

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