Paulino reports banner year for Subic in State of the Freeport Address (SOFA)

“New investments, increase in revenues, new infrastructures, and influx of tourists highlighted 2022.”

This was the statement made by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino during his State of the Freeport Address (SOFA) held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) on Tuesday.

Paulino cited, “2022 was a banner year for the SBMA despite the challenges during the past year. All revenue collections of the Trade Facilitation and Compliance Department, Business and Investment Departments, Seaport, Airport, Labor and Tourism Departments have increased compared to 2021 figures. And even surpassed pre-pandemic performance.”

Paulino reported that from these revenues, the SBMA has turned over P1.33-billion worth of dividends to the National Treasury in 2022. He added that this is higher by 20.21 percent to 2021’s P1.11-billion worth of dividends.

The SBMA was also able to help provide revenue shares to the contiguous communities of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as stated in Republic Act 7227 as part of their revenue shares.

Paulino said that in Zambales, Olongapo City received P74.88 million, followed by Subic Town with P48.77 million, Castillejos with P29.74 million, San Marcelino with P38.54 million and San Antonio with P27.45 million.

He added that in Bataan, the town of Morong received a revenue share of P28.1 million, Hermosa with P33.81 million, and Dinalupihan with P39.98 million. Paulino said that the total revenues that the SBMA shared for the contiguous communities here amounted to P321.27 million for 2022.

“Back in July, Subic Bay Freeport was conferred as the Number 1 Tourist Destination in Central Luzon, and Number 5 in the Philippines in 2021 despite the Covid-19 Pandemic. We are determined to keep that reputation as by the end of 2022, we recorded 9.4 million same-day visitor arrivals in the Freeport,” he said.

The official also cited that his Fast, Friendly, and Flexible business practice has increased the number of approved new investment projects inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

“As an indicator of investor confidence, 38 Subic Freeport locators will be implementing their expansion projects amounting to P36.34 billion. That is a significant jump from P591 million in 2021, let alone P160 million in 2020, which were still during the pandemic,” he cited.

He added that during the same year, 133 new investment projects with committed investments amounting to ₱14.06 billion.

Paulino added  that the top new projects in terms of committed investments are Northern Palawan Power Generation Corporation with P7 billion, followed by UNCO United Oil and Gas Philippines, Inc. with P1.9 billion, then Tawi Tawian Petroleum Trading Corporation with P1.5 billion, and Agila Subic Compass, Inc. with P1.1 billion.

“For the expansion projects, Vectrus topped in terms of committed investments, committing an additional P14.52 billion, followed by Agila South, Inc. with P10.74 billion, and Agila NY Naval Inc. with P6.28 billion, and of course, Nidec Subic Philippines Corporation with P4.2 billion,” Paulino said.

Meanwhile, the current workforce of the Subic Bay Freeport recorded 149,681 employees in 2022 and is expected to augment another 4,700 workers as new approved projects commence operations and current investors start implementing their expansion projects.

For this, he acknowledged the neighboring local government units for augmenting the manpower requirements of the Freeport investors.

The SOFA is an annual event of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) where members are given a heads-up on the accomplishments of the SBMA from the previous year as well as a glimpse of the plans and programs for implementation by the Agency. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA chief expects rise in tourist arrivals after EO No. 7 issuance

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is expecting a rise in tourist arrivals in the Subic Bay Freeport following the issuance of Executive Order 7 (EO 7) on October 28 by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. allowing the voluntary wearing of face masks in indoor and outdoor settings. 

“This is good news! With this sound decision from President Marcos, we could expect more tourists here in Subic Bay Freeport,” said SBMA Chairman & Administrator Rolen C Paulino. 

“Currently, hotels and resorts inside the Subic Bay Freeport are almost fully-booked. With the issuance of EO7, we will be anticipating a spill-over of tourists to other areas near Subic Bay due to the anticipated rise in the number of arrivals,” Paulino added. 

The official cited that many of the resorts and theme parks here have already began to go on full blast, citing that theme parks such as Zoobic Safari, is now offering their annual Night Safari which will run on all Saturday nights of November up to December.

“Aside from these theme parks, many companies have also opened their restaurants as they expect the number of tourist arrivals to increase during the holiday season. Tourism-related establishments that commenced operations this year included the VSNRY Coffee Shop and the En Izakaya & Global Cuisine by Sakura, providing tourists more areas to visit here,” he said.

The official added that the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) is available to companies for the conduct of their Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) in Subic Bay Freeport. SBECC can accommodate large events, with the recent holding of the Alveo 5150 Ironman. The event place will also be in full house starting with Philippine College of Physicians Annual Congress this month. 

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said during a cabinet meeting that President Marcos would ease up on wearing of facemasks indoors as the country shifts towards a more lenient approach towards the end of the pandemic.

Frasco said that the executive order issued by the President was based on the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force stating that the wearing of facemasks indoors will be optional but certain exceptions such as the wearing of facemasks in public transportations and medical facilities.

The President also urged non-vaccinated Filipinos from Covid-19 to continue wearing facemasks, especially those with comorbidities and senior citizens.

 Frasco added that non-vaccinated foreigners could now enter the country as long as they can present a negative antigen test result 24 hours before their flight to the Philippines, or have their antigen tests upon arriving in the country.

“An RT-PCR test is no longer needed before going out of the country," Frasco said.

“The aim of the President is to keep up with other countries in Asia that have eased up on their travel restrictions to encourage more tourists to visit them”, the official further remarked. (MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Bay Freeport opens more jobs in the tourism sector

A total of 6,723 job openings were posted during a job fair held at the Harbor Point Ayala Mall on Monday with a number of applicants hired on-the-spot.

This, according to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, proves that this premier Freeport is bouncing back from the hurdles brought by the pandemic.

Paulino added that the job fair is the culminating activity of the agency’s celebration of National Tourism Week 2022 that was moved to a later date due to super typhoon Karding.

“It was originally among the activities to kick off the National Tourism Week, but due to super typhoon Karding, we had to postpone it for the following week,” he added.

Paulino said that 57 companies in and around Subic Freeport participated in the event, most of them from the tourism sector, which was gravely hit during the Covid-19 pandemic from restrictions of social distancing.

He added that since the restrictions are easing off, it is likely that companies engaged in tourism-related activities will need more employees as the Subic Bay Freeport Zone expects an influx of tourists during the next few months.

In their social media page, FUNtastic Subic Bay, the SBMA Tourism Department posted the companies that are currently hiring. Companies such as Zoobic Safari, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, and The Shoreline are currently looking to expand their workforce since they are expecting an increase in guest arrivals towards the end of this year.

Atty. Melvin Varias, SBMA Labor Manager, said that among the companies hiring, 7 are into business process outsourcing (BPOs), 8 manpower companies, 12 construction services, and 9 manufacturing companies.

The applicants hired on-the-spot were in fact already welcomed into the workforce by DaTian Subic Shoes Corporation, a shoe manufacturing company here.

Varias disclosed that Subic Bay Freeport workforce is 146,711-strong who are employed with 3,731 companies here. He added that Olongapo has the biggest number of workers with 65,363 employees, followed by Zambales with 27,027.

He also said that most of the workers are male, with 102,070 compared to 44,641 female workers, mostly working in the service providing companies. The service sector which comprises 74.25 percent of the workforce, is followed by the manufacturing sector with 13.76 percent.

The two categories are followed by the construction sector at 8.38 percent, while marine-related services follow with 3.61 percent. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA, BSLI join hands to boost tourism in Subic

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Brighterday Subic Ltd., Inc. (BSLI) strengthened its partnership to help boost tourism inside this premier Freeport with the inauguration of the Tanawan view deck on Tuesday.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino said that the BSLI pledged to maintain cleanliness at the view deck located along  San Bernardino Road here as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) adding to the numerous attractions already being offered for tourists visiting Subic Freeport.

He also disclosed that the agency is drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the matter, citing that the Subic-based company is willing to provide much needed assistance to the SBMA.  It has further committed to provide maintenance personnel to keep the viewdeck area clean.

BSLI currently runs the renowned All Hands Beach Resort here, which for almost 2 decades has been  favored by  beachgoers especially during the summer.  

According to BSLI’s Alex Dayrit, the company is willing to provide the maintenance services as long as the SBMA needs their assistance. He added that since the view deck is near the All Hands Beach Resort, it is also quite fitting to beautify the area en route to the nearby tourist spots.

The Tanawan view deck is located at the San Bernardino road, overlooking Subic Bay, facing the Waterfront Area of Subic Bay Freeport. The site has been one of the favorite spots of recreational anglers, and a resting area for cyclists.

“With the company helping SBMA in providing maintenance to an area, we hope that other companies would follow suit,” Chairman Paulino said. (MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Freeport remains No. 1 tourist destination in Central Luzon, No. 5 in country despite pandemic

This bustling premier Freeport has again sustained its reputation as the top tourist destination in Central Luzon, and 5^th in the entire country for 2021.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism department manager Jem Camba disclosed that the Department of Tourism (DOT) conferred the Subic Bay Freeport as the number one tourist destination in Central Luzon with 7,374,332 visitors and 737,486 tourists for the year 2021, while also ranking fifth among the most visited places in the country.

“We have established and followed strict health and safety protocols since the pandemic broke, because we had to ensure the safety of guests entering the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. So that we could promote Subic Freeport as a safe destination for tourists, with the strict adherence to the health and safety guidelines set by the national government,” Camba said.

She added that during the second year under the pandemic, the tourism industry of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone continued to thrive via digital marketing, online business-to-business meetings, and travel fairs, not to mention creating QR codes for easy access of information regarding tourism and health and safety guidelines being implemented here.

It was also during this time of the pandemic when bubble events boomed, which was usually used in the sports tourism industry such as the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, FilBasket, and beach volleyball. The Freeport was also the place to go for locked-in tapings as it became the venue for film shoots.

Camba said that the agency assures that the hotels and other tourism-related establishments complied with the health and safety standards set by the national government, as weekly inspections of the area are being conducted by the agency on their compliance.

“We also utilized some of these hotels for either quarantine, leisure or mixed-use purposes. The quarantine hotels are areas where repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and non-OFWs stay upon arrival at the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA),” she said.

She assured that almost all of the employees of these hotels have already been vaccinated to ensure the safety of their guests; other tourism-related establishments such as restaurants and theme parts have also followed suit.

Meanwhile, the Subic’s tourism industry has a positive outlook for 2022 as more sports tourism events have resumed here. Recently, the SBMA played host to sports tourism events such as the 2022 Subic Bay International Triathlon, Audax Ride, FRIKE: Mountain Bike Fun Race, and the 2022 Rally Sprint Series Round 1.

Events such as the EZ Mil Panalo Homecoming Tour, Gold’s Gym Muscle Contest, Pickleball National Tournament, Subic Bay Ironkids, Subic Bay 5150, and the continuation of the 2022 Rally Sprint Series will draw more tourists before the end of the year.

“Aside from these events, the SBMA will resume its cruise ship arrivals by next year. Companies such as the Royal Caribbean have already confirmed their arrival for 2023,” Camba said.

With all the upcoming activities, Camba also expressed hope for more tourism-related businesses to make it happen in the Philippines, particularly in Subic Freeport. (MPD-SBMA) 

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Subic Freeport braces for tourists influx for Holy Week

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), in anticipation of high influx of tourists and devotees coming here, has lined up weeklong activities, in observance of the Holy Week celebration in the “new normal.”

During the opening of the Weekend Eco-Market over the weekend, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino said that Subic is almost in full swing opening more areas of destinations for more guests to visit.

“SBMA is again open. I really wanted people to come here in Subic during the Holy Week. But with what I see, it is more than I expected,” Paulino said.

Paulino’s appointment as SBMA Chairman and Administrator coincided with the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), downgrading Region 3 to Alert Level 1. He also vowed to make Subic Bay Freeport one of the most visited places in the country.

Over the weekend, the Chairman spearheaded the opening of the Subic Bay Weekend Eco-Market, an outdoor flea market located near the San Roque Chapel where some 30 micro, small and medium enterprise businesses from Central Luzon sell fresh and processed fruits, vegetables, meats, handicrafts and more.

Open from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, the Subic Bay Weekend Eco-Market, in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DoT) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), aims to help revive tourism and economy in the area, and will run all weekends until end of May.

Moreover, the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) also opened 2022 Subic Bay Banchetto and trade fair for the span of the Holy Week period, and provide a venue to unwind after the working class went back to work on a 100 percent complement.

“Since Region 3 was placed under Alert Level 1, we all have been working hard. And the Banchetto was organized in time for the Holy Week to give ourselves a much-deserved break,” said Benjamin Antonio III, SBFCC president and Subicwater chief executive officer and general manager.

He said that the Banchetto is also in partnership with the DoT and DTI aiming to revive tourism and economy as micro, small and medium enterprise businesses joined the trade fair.

The Banchetto will run daily from 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday only.

Meanwhile, for devotees of the religious activities, San Roque Chapel started the Holy Week with the Blessing of Palm, locally known as palaspas, the re-enactment of the entry of Jesus to Jerusalem, and the Station of the Cross.

On Holy Monday (April 11) until Holy Wednesday (April 13), there will be the “Pabasa sa Freeport,” the chanting of the life, passion and death of Jesus, from 8:00 AM onwards. A Holy Mass follows at 5:00 PM, and a religious procession at 6:00 PM.

On Maundy Thursday (April 14), there will be Holy Mass and Washing of the Feet (5:00 PM), to be followed by a Holy Mass at 6:00 PM. And the start of Visita Iglesia (7:00 PM- 12:00 MN).

On Maundy Thursday (April 15), Private Station of the Cross (6:00 AM- 12:00NN/SRC), Liturgy of the Word and Veneration of the Cross (3:00PM/ SRC). The Grand Procession follows at 6:00 PM.

Good Friday (April 17), the much-awaited Salubong (4:00 AM), the pre-dawn meeting of the images of the Risen Christ, and the grieving Mother Mary. Procession starts in front of Dispensary Building and the other is at Spanish Gate. Holy Mass at 5:00 AM. Easter Egg Hunting begins at 11:00 AM at San Roque Chapel.

The visitors can also take the opportunity to join the procession (Holy Wednesday) and the grand procession on Good Friday.

Chairman Paulino said that because of its security and cleanliness, the Freeport is a favorite vacation rendezvous with the family to remember the sufferings of Jesus, the meaning of His death, and His resurrection.

“As we would have wanted to have Alert Level 0, and come up with a better normal in the Freeport, we still enjoin everyone to follow minimal health protocols. Wear your face masks and sanitize your hands with alcohol whenever possible. Let us all stay safe,” Paulino said. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA chief vows to bring back Subic Bay’s glory days, gets business stakeholders’ cooperation

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Rolen C. Paulino met with a group of business stakeholders at the Central Business District (CBD) of this premier freeport zone.

The meeting, and courtesy call at the same time, is part of the series of his re-familiarization of the Freeport after he was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 1.

“I am not that good. So I will need your support,” Paulino told the businessmen.

During the meeting, Paulino reiterated his plan to bring back the “old glory days” of Subic Bay by making it attractive again to more tourists and visitors, which will be a lot possible after the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) eased up restrictions to alert level 1 in most parts of the country.

He asked them to cooperate with the agency by religiously cleaning the vicinity of their establishments and “make it the most beautiful part of Subic, especially near Boardwalk. The earlier, the better. Because it is a favorite spot of beach walkers.”

To this, business stakeholders agreed with the chairman, and pledged their support to his call to maintain clean surroundings all the time.

“If there are things you need to tell me, please don’t hesitate to do so. We will do our best to help you,” Paulino encouraged.

He said that he believes that mutual understanding with the stakeholders will allow him to carry out his plans better.

In the first few days after his appointment, Paulino also made rounds along the Boardwalk Area and Remy Field to see where and what needs to be improved.

He also inspected the ongoing road project, urged the contractors to fast-track the construction, and lessen the traffic especially in the main thoroughfares.

Currently, the new administration is restarting from the traces of the pandemic and helping the Subic Freeport community bounce back to being among the top tourist destinations in Central Luzon.

From 2014 to 2019, Subic Bay has maintained its reputation as the best tourist destination in the region in the last six years based on the number of local and foreign tourist arrivals.

Also in 2019, Subic Bay was named “Destination of Year” for 2016 and 2017 by the Philippine Sports Tourism Awards. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA gets tourism award for best pandemic practices

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has placed among the top 12 finalists in the award for “Best in Tourism Practice During the Pandemic” during the 22nd National Convention of the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP).

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the Subic agency was recognized for its Covid-19 safety protocols that brought about a safe environment for “bubble” events in the Subic Bay Freeport in the past two years.

“This is only proof that the restrictions and safety standards that we practice like wearing masks, social distancing, disinfecting and most importantly the continuous vaccination of our stakeholders, are all working in ensuring the safety of our visitors,” Eisma said on Wednesday.

“Again, this only shows that our efforts in battling Covid-19 are paying off. Tourists and visitors feel safer to travel in Subic because we have kept our Covid cases low compared to other travel destinations,” she added.

Eisma also thanked ATOP and the Department of Tourism for recognizing the continuing efforts of the SBMA in keeping the Freeport safe not only tourists and visitors, but for business stakeholders as well.

The “Best in Tourism Practice During the Pandemic” award was given as a special category to highlight innovative tourism activities, as main or support operations to the safety of the community, during the times of Covid-19 pandemic. The SBMA competed for the award along with 32 other government agencies and local government units.

The tourism industry was considered the hardest-hit sector during the pandemic, thus necessitating resilient practices among stakeholders to sustain growth.

In the Subic Bay area, Eisma said the SBMA was the first to impose temperature scans at the onset of the pandemic, as well as strict entry protocols during lockdowns and high alert levels. Later on, it initiated a vaccination program for Freeport residents and workers to help keep Covid-19 infections at bay.

“In the course of implementing strict healthy safety practices, Subic became known as a safe haven for various sports events and conferences under the bubble concept,” Eisma pointed out.

“By placing premium on safety, we succeeded in attracting more business and find more opportunities to sustain the local economy,” she added.

SBMA records indicated that despite the ongoing pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions, the Subic Bay Freeport recorded an increase in same-day visitor arrivals by as much as 42% since the 2020 lockdown.

Tourist arrivals meanwhile increased by 141% while hotel occupancy almost doubled in number in 2021 compared to 2020 figures.

Eisma also credited the government’s crew-change and repatriation programs that made Subic a busy hub for the processing of incoming and outgoing seafarers, as well as overseas workers and other Filipinos arriving from abroad.

She said these programs saved the tourism industry in Subic amid pandemic travel restrictions. (MPD-SBMA)

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