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)

Read More

SBMA reveals 10-point Agenda for the next six years

The new management team of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) revealed its 10-Point Agenda which defines the direction of the agency in the next six years.

“The Ten-Point Agenda is a set of priorities we would like to achieve. It is a direction that would guide us where we want to go and that is revitalizing the Subic Freeport,” SBMA Administrator Atty.Wilma Amy T. Eisma said.

The Agenda she said focuses on Locator Service Excellence, the Green Initiative, Safety and Security, Build, Build, Build, Subic Freeport as the Gateway, Community Engagement, Policy Reforms and Good Governance Program, FDIs and MSMEs, the Freeport Expansion, and Tourism Star.

Under the Locator Service Excellence, the SBMA will create a Non-Stop Shop which is a 24/7 on-line customer service and virtual complaint desk, and One-Stop Shop that would receive suggestions and complaints of the visiting public to Subic Bay thru Dial 888 Hotline or personal appearance.

Along with this, the SBMA is institutionalizing the Red Carpet Treatment to all locators and investors by implementing the Cut the Red Tape Project which will shorten to three days the releasing of certificates of registration and tax exemptions (CR/CRTE), building permit, Environmental Compliance Certificate, among others.

For the Green Initiative, this Administration will commence its improved climate change adaptation program thru broader coastal clean-up drives and tree planting activities and the use of renewable energy to mitigate any negative effect of the agency’s operations on the environment and, possibly, to secure ISO 14000 Certificate compliance before the end of the year.

SBMA will institutionalize safety programs across the Freeport by improving its safety and security capabilities in land, sea and forest with the acquisition of new equipment such as speed boats, motorcycles, patrol cars, as well as the prohibition of walk-in vendors and mendicants. These also include the establishment of security protocols, like using the SBMA website and the radio station, and the intensified campaign to make the Freeport drug-free area.

“The Agenda focuses on SBMA’s investment campaign to meet our vision of becoming a highly-urbanized Freeport in the near future. We must immediately start building and improving our facilities,” Eisma said.

The Administrator also said that under the national government’s “Build, Build, Build” program, agency’s engineering department will be able to finalize the feasibility study on Subic’s port development plan, Tipo Road expansion, bulk terminal expansion for PPP, improvement of access roads to Morong and surrounding municipalities, and the construction of SBMA’s corporate center that will house all of the agency’s offices and departments.

Meanwhile, Subic Freeport will be promoted as the Gateway to Southeast Asia and the world by intensifying marketing campaigns for its airport and seaport with the former reviving domestic and international flight operations, regaining status as an international airport and settling pending issues with CAAP; and the latter by introducing more competitive port-related tariffs and fees and promoting ship-to-ship business model to increase container traffic by at least five percent annually.
Complementing its infrastructure development programs, SBMA will step-up promotion the of high technology industries prioritizing research and development (R&D), creative, BPO and ICT while maintaining Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and USA as key sources of foreign direct investments (FDIs).

In the area of the Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the agency will push for the signing of an agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to provide MSME-investors easy access to their respective investment–related programs. On top of this, SBMA will allocate a marketing budget to launch an aggressive marketing campaign to promote SBFZ, especially in the new frontiers like Russia and China.

Moreover, the SBMA will also drum beat its tourism industry thru Tourism Star programs by organizing an aggressive marketing campaign to promote Subic Bay as the next cruise ship playground, launching several landmark events such as hosting a one-week festival or conference featuring science and engineering design of modern world watercrafts to be dubbed Ultra High Speed Watercraft Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival, music fest, Christmas fest, grand Subic sale, and the like.

To address the shrinking available land for new investments, SBMA will identify areas for possible expansion outside the Freeport and sign a memorandum of understanding with local government units (LGU) as prescribed under the Presidential Proclamation 532 before a master plan will be developed.
For the Community Engagement, SBMA will develop capability building programs with indigenous peoples (IPs) and volunteers in the contiguous LGUs to increase competencies and generate more quality jobs; institutionalize an employment program for Subic Bay volunteers and an educational assistance plan in close coordination with TESDA and DOLE.

“The very important part of the Agenda is the policy reforms and good governance program the SBMA will be initiating that will guarantee the realization of all other initiatives in the agenda,” Eisma explained.

First under this agenda is the filing in Congress the amendment of RA 7227 which will seek to allocate for SBMA the use the one percent (1%) of the five percent (5%) gross income collected in the Subic Freeport; implementation of the moratorium on expansion of leased areas by locators engaged in trading of used trucks and construction equipment; expansion of the Integrity Pledge Program by including port users and other customers.

Also included are an intensified campaign against corruption, smuggling and illicit trade; improved incentive package of investors thru modernizing the Philippine Incentive Regime, and institutionalized programs under the “End Contractualization Initiative.” (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

Read More

SBMA plans to develop Smart City, Green Zone

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is set to develop a Smart City that is expected to spur investments and international trade in the country.

SBMA Chairman Martin Dino said in a statement that the Smart City will be developed in the Redondo Peninsula in Zambales where the shipyard of Hanjin Philippines, the world’s fourth biggest shipbuilding facility, is located.

Redondo Peninsula c/o Google maps

The SBMA proposes to convert 3,000 hectares of the narrow 15-km long rugged peninsula into a new industrial park he designated as Subic 2.

“This would become Subic’s Smart City – an exclusive enclave of modern high-tech corporations and a hub for scientific development and innovation. No other site in the country could match its advantage in location and accessibility,” Dino said ina statement.

In addition, SBMA plans to build Subic 3 in Morong, Bataan called “Green Zone”.

The Green Zone would be home to non-tech industries and a Mecca for commercial, financial investment and academic locators.

“We want to take Subic Bay Freeport to the next level of development. In line with President Duterte’s partnership for growth, Subic will continue to be a major contributor to the economic growth, countryside development and national progress,” Dino said.

Dino’s other plans include upgrading the Subic Bay International Airport to become regional logistics transshipment hub and air terminal for tourists, guests, investors and junket operators for tourism-and-entertainment related events.

With the “Smart City” and “Green Zone” as centerpieces of our economic vision, Subic would become one of the most exciting locations for businesses not only in the Philippines but all of Southeast Asia, and maybe Asia and the Pacific, Dino stressed. Subic earlier recorded P111.5 billion worth of investments for first three quarters of the year. These investments have the potential to create 55,000 new jobs.

To date, it has a combined investment of some $102.8 billion brought in by some 1,700 business locators, both foreign and local that provided jobs for 109,000 workers, since the former US naval base was turned into a special economic zone through Republic Act No. 7227. (Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat, Manila Bulletin)

http://business.mb.com.ph/2016/12/03/sbma-plans-to-develop-smart-city-green-zone/

Read More

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)

Read More

SBMA announces 2013 plans

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia has disclosed on Friday a six-point strategic plan to fully turn the agency’s direction towards “building the new Subic.”

In his second State of the Freeport Address (SOFA), Garcia said that with the Philippine economy taking off in the past few years, the best is yet to come for the Subic Bay Freeport.

In sum, Garcia said the SBMA, as manager of the Subic Bay Freeport, would 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.

To maximize the land use potentials of the Freeport, the SBMA is now expanding the Subic territory at the Redondo Peninsula to accommodate new ship builders. A similar expansion is being made in Hermosa, Bataan, and other areas that might be offered to prospect investors, Garcia said.

With regards to the JICA recommendation to use Subic as alternate port to decongest Manila, Garcia said the SBMA has been aggressively marketing its seaport for increased utilization of the New Container Terminals 1 and 2. This strategy also includes the opening of feeder lines to Singapore and Japan to open the Subic Port to ships sailing to and from Europe and the Middle East.

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.

Chairman Garcia also revealed in his SOFA that the agency has also determined to further improve its financial position in the coming years, after increasing its net operating profit by 91 percent last year.

To ensure success and sustainability of this strategy, some necessary measures shall be implemented, Garcia pointed out in his SOFA.

These include the creation of a joint SBMA-BOC Technical Working Group to more effectively combat smuggling; streamlining of business processes to reduce requirements and improve delivery of services; amending existing agreements with other agencies or implementation of new agreements; and enhancing safety culture through community watch campaign and installation of law enforcement surveillance and security systems.

The SOFA is an annual event¬ organized by the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (SBFCCI) to give the SBMA chairman the opportunity to inform Freeport stakeholders and neighboring communities of the agency’s accomplishments, developments and action plan for the year. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia stresses a point during his 2nd State of the Freeport Address (SOFA) before business locators, and representatives from Local Government Units and the academe at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center .

Read More

SBMA posts record profit

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has disclosed that the agency achieved last year the highest profit in its 20 year history.

Based on preliminary figures presented at the SBMA’s Strategic Planning conference last week, the Agency posted a record profit of P789 million in 2012. This is a drastic turnaround from the P1.2 billion loss in 2011

Chairman & Administrator Roberto V. Garcia said that the turnaround was due to increased revenues, reduced operating expenses and a favorable exchange rate.

The Agency revenue increase of 16% versus last year was brought about by new major projects in seaport operations such as the Vale ore transshipment project and the start of commercial operations of the Phase 2 new container port.

Coupled with an aggressive collection campaign on existing accounts, new revenue streams were created through increased admission fees on importations and the imposition of fees to defray municipal expenses that were previously subsidized.

Operating expenses decreased by 7% versus 2011 as the Agency implemented a comprehensive austerity program. Salaries dropped 7% as a freeze hiring policy was implemented and manpower count decreased.

Repairs and maintenance likewise decreased by 46% and advertising was slashed by 35% vs 2011. As a result earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation (EBITDA) jumped from P329 million in 2011 to P629 milliona 91% increase.

Due mainly to favorable exchange rates, unrealized foreign exchange posted a gain of P1.1 Billion from previous years forex loss of P566 million.

The 2013 Strategic Planning session focused on developing new initiatives to sustain and improve further SBMA’s financial position in the coming years. New strategic initiatives concentrating on the seaport, airport, tourism, and commercial and industrial leases were formulated, targets were set and detailed plans of action were submitted and approved by the SBMA Board.

SBMA wanted to ensure it was ready and able to take advantage of the present upsurge in the country’s strong economic performance especially in attracting foreign investments. (SBMA)

Read More

SBMA defers Subic airport conversion plan

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) had deferred its plan to convert the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) into a recreational theme park.

Some long-term programs adopted by the agency earlier this year are being modified in view of the current economic changes affecting the Freeport, SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said.

SBIA is now being eyed as a forward base for the joint operations of the Philippine Air Force and the United States Air Force Pacific alliance to maintain regional balance in light of territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

The Freeport’s five-year strategic plan (2012-2016) was to convert the 200-hectare SBIA into a tourism hub with amenities such as hotel-casino entertainment complex, science and technology park, duty free shops, convention center, waterfront and luxury villas, family hotels, golf course, business process outsourcing (BPO) city, theme park, yacht club, condominiums and SBMA corporate headquarters.

Amid strong opposition from public and private sectors, the agency said then that it would proceed with the plan to recover the huge financial losses of the Freeport. (CLJD/AMV-PIA3)

Read More

SBMA Board Studies Airport Conversion

An official of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said the other day that the proposed $5-billion conversion of the Subic Bay International Airport into a world-class theme park is still being studied by the SBMA Board of Directors.

SBMA Board Member Francis S. Garcia said they are still deliberating on the proposal because it would impact on the entire region, particularly programs aimed at boosting tourism in Central Luzon provinces.

Earlier, the proposed conversion of the SBMA airport into a theme park drew flak from former senator and SBMA founding chairman Richard Gordon who described the proposal as “a high degree of mental slaught” if the government allows it.

Officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said converting the airport into a theme park may derail plans of provinces around the freeport to integrate tourism promotion programs and take advantage of the existing world-class sea ports and airports in the former American military bases.

Last Friday, tourism officers of seven provinces in Central Luzon gathered at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) to map out plans in promoting the region as a major tourist destination by highlighting idyllic white sand beaches, heritage sites and colorful festivals.

Region 3 Tourism Director Ronaldo Tiotuico said the forum aims to gather tourism officers in 120 local government units (LGUs) in the region to discuss a unified strategy to promote Central Luzon as a major tourism hub.

He said the two freeport zones in Subic and Clark are major assets that will contribute to plans of promoting tourism in the seven provinces of the region-Bataan, Pampanga, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Tarlac and Bulacan.

Gordon told newsmen the administration will be committing “a high degree of mental slaught” if it allows the plan to convert the Subic Bay International Airport into a theme park and recreation site.

Gordon, who also once served as tourism secretary, said global tourist destinations such as New York and San Francisco have many airports yet Palawan, now being promoted by the government needs an additional airport.

He said the SBMA should not waste the US$40-million government funds used to rebuild and modernize the SBIA.

Gordon criticized plans of current SBMA Chairman Robert Garcia to push for a US$5-billion investment proposal that converts the freeport’s 200-hectare prime real estate into a theme park with condominiums, malls and recreational facilities similar to Hong Kong Disneyland and Singapore’s Sentosa park.

“It’s very rare to have a world class airport and a seaport in one facility in our country. The government should instead develop it to decongest airports in Metro Manila and bring in more tourists and investors,” said Gordon in a telephone interview over the weekend. (Mar Supnad, Manila Bulletin)

Read More