Subic Freeport tows honors at Central Luzon TRES Awards

This premier Freeport was able to rack up major awards at the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Central Luzon Tourism Recognition for Enterprises and Stakeholders (TRES) Awards 2024 held at the Quest Plus Conference Center, Clark Freeport Zone, on February 26, 2025.

“Winning four prestigious awards is a testament that the agency's collaborative efforts with tourism stakeholders, as well as the tourists themselves, are paying off,” quips Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño.

 

Proof of these collaborative efforts is when the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) emerged victorious in one of the major awards, the “Most Outstanding Community-Based Tourism Program (Central Luzon Sustainable Tourism Summit 2024).” 

 

The SBFZ also bagged 1st Runner-Up awards in the “Most Outstanding Tourism Month Celebration,” the “Most Creative Printed Marketing Collateral (Ecotourism Brochure)”, and the “Top Tourist Destination in the Province/ Freeport Zone category.”

 

During the awarding ceremony, DOT Region 3 Regional Director Dr. Richard Daenos handed the award to SBMA Chief of Staff Atty. Von Rodriguez and Tourism Department Manager Mary Jamelle Camba, who represented the agency on behalf of Chairman Aliño.

 

The chairman cited that the agency aims to boost the tourism industry in this region, adding that it is currently working on several infrastructure projects and facilities that hope to entice more tourists to visit the Freeport. 

 

In 2024, during its Tourism Summit, held as part of the Tourism Month celebration, the SBMA launched the Race to Carbon Neutrality. This project aims to reduce carbon emissions in the SBFZ by 30 percent by 2030 and eventually to net zero by 2040. This will boost the SBFZ’s competitiveness through resource efficiency, improve its brand image by positioning Subic Freeport in the global market, and attract more green foreign direct investments.

 

“This will also bring the SBMA at the forefront of introducing carbon-neutral development strategies into economic, industrial, and trade policies of our country,” he added.

Director Daenos stated that the recognition is a great way to give back to DOT3’s stakeholders.

 

He said, “DOT3 doesn’t undermine the efforts of our industry partners; quite the opposite. Through this award-giving event, we shine a spotlight on their outstanding contributions to the tourism sector over the past year.”

DOT3’s Tourism Development Division and Tourism Regulations Division took on the rigorous task of narrowing down the list of this year’s TRES Awards.

 

“The TRES Awards is aimed at inspiring and challenging its stakeholders to remain committed, driven, and empowered to enhance and elevate the overall tourism experience in the region through their significant contributions,” Daenos said. 

 

Aside from the SBFZ, two of its stakeholders also received accolades. Acea Subic Beach Resort and Ayala Malls Harbor Point bagged awards for showing that stakeholders can greatly boost the tourism sector of this premier Freeport.

 

Acea Subic Beach Resort received the grand award for the Most Gender-Sensitive Accommodation Facility,” winner in the "Tourism Quality Citation: MICE Event Venue (Outdoor),” and second runner-up for the “Green Champion.” The resort is also the “Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) Advocate awardee.”

Meanwhile, Ayala Malls Harbor Point was awarded the Mabuhay Citation: Public Toilet for having the cleanest and PWD-friendly toilets in Central Luzon. The mall management cited that maintenance, training of employees, cleanliness and odor, amenities inside the restroom, air circulation, and ventilation system have been factors in achieving this award. (MPD-SBMA) 

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Luxury cruise ship MV Silver Dawn makes maiden call at Subic Bay

The MV Silver Dawn, a luxury cruise ship by Silversea Cruises, made its maiden call at this premier Freeport yesterday (December 31) carrying around 1,000 passenger tourists.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño shared that the Silversea Cruises is part of the prestigious Royal Caribbean Group, and is an ultra-luxury and expedition travel brand based in Monaco.

“This is the maiden visit of the MV Silver Dawn to the Port of Subic. We can expect that 596 passengers, as well as 411 crew members of the ship, will spend their New Year’s Eve here,” he said, hoping that the people of Subic Bay Freeport will welcome them during their stay here.

SBMA Port Operations Senior Deputy Administrator Ronnie Yambao said, “As the Chairperson of the SBMA Cruise Ship Industry Committee, we are eyeing to breach the pre-pandemic level of cruise ship arrivals in Subic Bay to reach 20 in 2025.”

He added that the MV Blue Dream Star, among many other cruise ships that have confirmed its arrival in 2025, will be here on April 11, May 3 and July 8 and bring 1,053 passengers on board.  

“Next is the Viva Vie Odyssey on September 23. The ship will bring in 924 passengers at double occupancy, along with 370 crew members,” he added.

Meanwhile, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco recently expressed her confidence in the cruise tourism industry of the Subic Bay Freeport zone.

During a meeting with the SBMA and other officials from Zambales at the Subic Bay Yacht Club, Frasco said that Subic Bay’s cruise tourism can be expanded to include homeporting and creating dedicated cruise port initiatives.

Frasco was in Subic Bay Freeport as part of the Philippine Experience Program (PEP) Central Luzon leg.

She added that Zambales can develop their billeting facilities via the Mabuhay accommodations and homestays, integrating Tourist-Oriented Police enforcers for the Community Order and Protection (TOPCOP) program with barangay tanods in Olongapo City to ensure tourist safety, and promote dive tourism. (MPD-SBMA) 

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SBMA enjoins SBF investors to Yuletide contests

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is enjoining companies and stakeholders inside this premier Freeport to participate in the competitions this Christmas season. 

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño announced that the first contest called “Paskong Pinoy Parol Making Contest” is open to all Subic Bay stakeholders and locators, an idea he came up with during a meeting with the Hospitality Alliance of Subic Bay, a local tourism organization here, during a meeting last month. 

“As a sign of unity amongst our stakeholders, can we have a single motif this year? I want it to be Paskong Pinoy to commemorate our Filipino heritage. I want you all to decorate your establishments with the traditional red, white and green colors of Christmas,” he instructed. 

The chairman said that the Paskong Pinoy Parol Making Contest aims to enliven the Christmas spirit here with a unified front, adding that the parol-making contest also provides employees of locators here with a platform to show their creativity. 

“Bellenisimo in Tarlac has been a great example of a community coming together and showing the Christmas spirit in their home town, and I want to do the same here in Subic where 162,891 freeport workers consider this place as their second home,” he added.

The Paskong Pinoy Parol Making Contest is open to all Subic Bay Freeport stakeholders, individual or group of ten. The Christmas lantern must embody the spirit of Filipino Christmas traditions. 

The size of the Christmas lantern should be ten feet by ten feet, with materials that conform to the agency’s thrust of sustainable tourism, by incorporating at least 70 to 80 percent recycled or biodegradable materials. 

The parol should have proper illumination, preferably LED lights, solar-powered lights, or other low-energy consuming lighting, and must avoid combustible materials or electrical systems.

For more details, visit tinyurl.com/SBParolMakingContest2024. (MPD-SBMA)

 

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Subic tourism stakeholders bare collaborative plans for ber months

The resident tourism stakeholders here presented various activities that will add boost to the tourist arrivals inside this premier Freeport for the rest of the ber months. 

The presentation of activities was made during the Talakayan sa Freeport media forum held at the Weltz Bar of the Terrace Hotel on Monday by Hospitality Alliance of Subic (HAS) President of Corporate Affairs Pamela Khonghun, who bared their plans for October, November and December here. 

“This coming October, we are promoting the Subic Bay Hauntfest 2.0, since the first one was launched last year. To recap, we held the hauntfest at the Rotonda Food Park of the Moonbay Marina with our members having their stalls and presentations,” she said.

The event was held on October 31, 2023, which included a Trick or Treat, Magic Show, Halloween Costume Competition, and a Block Party. Khonghun mentioned Luke Mijares, DJ Arhiz Picache, Sweet Patatas, Ultimasia, and 8oz as their featured performers during the Block Party.

Last year’s celebration also held the Halloween Skele-bration wherein tourists participated in the costume contest at the Harbor Point Ayala Mall. She said that tourists were able to Trick or Treat at various hotels inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

“This year, we are planning to hold the Subic Bay Hauntfest 2.0 at the Boardwalk Area. There will be many activities, with most of last year’s activities to be held again this year. It will be as grandiose as last year’s celebration,” she said.

Khonghun also disclosed the newest project in collaboration with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which is Paskuhan sa Boardwalk that will feature the “12 Days of Christmas” Food Fair, a Parol Making Competition, and a Caroling Competition. 

The HAS will collaborate with other tourism stakeholders here and create uniform Christmas lanterns to will be displayed, lighted up and featured at the Boardwalk Area and make the area lively during the Yuletide season. The group aims to boost the number of visitors in the area where most hotels are situated within a stone’s throw. 

Khonghun said that the alliance is opening its doors to local media practitioners to further promote their endeavors. 

She also expressed her gratitude to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño for continuously collaborating and supporting the endeavors of the HAS in promoting this premier Freeport as a tourist destination. (MPD-SBMA)

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