US Marine contingent arrives in Subic Bay ahead of the Balikatan exercises

A contingent of the US Marine Corps arrived at the Subic Bay International Airport in preparation for Balikatan 2022 to begin next week.

Approximately 8,900 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the U.S. Military are teaming up for Balikatan 2022, one of the largest-ever iterations of the Philippine-led annual exercise taking place across Luzon from March 28 to April 8.

The 3,800 AFP members and 5,100 U.S. military personnel will train shoulder-to-shoulder focusing on maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. 

“Balikatan is a critical opportunity to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our Philippine allies toward a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific that is more connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient,’ as our Indo-Pacific Strategy calls for.  The U.S. is proud to continue our participation in this long-standing exercise,” said U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Heather Variava. 

“During Balikatan, the U.S. military and AFP will train together to expand and advance shared tactics, techniques, and procedures that strengthen our response capabilities and readiness for real-world challenges,” said Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron, 3rd Marine Division Commanding General.  “The friendship and trust between our forces will enable us to accomplish any mission across the spectrum of military operations.” 

The exercise also includes a command post exercise that tests the AFP and U.S. forces’ ability to plan, command, and communicate with each other in a simulated environment.  This training will bolster the collective security and defensive capabilities of the alliance. 

“Exercise Balikatan is a testament to the strength of the Philippines and United States’ security relationship,” said Maj. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, AFP Exercise Director for Balikatan 22.  “The experience gained in the exercise complements our security cooperation endeavors and will help to enhance existing mutual security efforts.” 

The AFP and U.S. military will also conduct multiple humanitarian and civic assistance projects during this year’s Balikatan, including the renovation of four elementary schools, multiple community health engagements, and the exchange of advanced emergency rescue and lifesaving techniques. 

These construction projects, health engagements and community relations events improve local infrastructure, facilitate the exchange of lifesaving medical skills, and strengthen ties between Philippine communities and Philippine and American military forces. 

COVID-19 mitigation remains a priority for both nations. U.S. forces will comply with all Philippine government COVID-19 travel regulations and will maintain social distancing and wear face masks during exercises as operationally feasible. 

“Balikatan” is a Tagalog term that means “shoulder-to-shoulder” or “sharing the load together,” which characterizes the spirit of the exercise and represents the alliance between the Philippines and the United States. 

“Balikatan 22 coincides with the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation and a shared commitment to promoting peace,” said Maj. Gen. Bargeron.  “Our alliance remains a key source of strength and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.” 

Exercises like Balikatan strengthen international partnerships and the participating militaries’ abilities to rapidly respond to crises throughout the Indo-Pacific region.  The United States is proud to participate in this Philippine-led exercise to improve both nations’ capabilities across a wide range of military operations.  (SNL)

https://ph.usembassy.gov/37th-iteration-of-balikatan-exercise-set-to-begin-in-the-philippines/

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SBMA launches 1st Quarter Offshore Clean-up in Subic Bay

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), along with other authorities in the Port of Subic launched the 1^st Quarter Off Shore Clean Up 2022 in response to the call for a cleaner and safer freeport.

Newly installed SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen Paulino lauded personnel from SBMA Seaport Department, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Maritime Group, and Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) who participated in the activity.

Earlier this month, in his first appearance as SBMA Chairman, Paulino appealed to employees, locators, residents and stakeholders to help in maintaining cleanliness and safety in the freeport to attract more tourists and investors.

As part of the strategic measures to revitalize the business climate, the SBMA Seaport Department launched the off-shore clean-up drive which kicked off on Friday, March 18.

“The objective of this off shore clean-up is to engage people to remove trash and debris from beaches, waterways and other waterbodies,” said Jerome Martinez, manager of the Seaport Department.

The project also aims to identify the sources of litter that come to the bay, to change behaviors that cause pollution and raise awareness on the extent of the marine debris problem.

Meanwhile, Diego Aviles, chief of Maritime Safety Branch of the Seaport Department, said the SBMA has launched several activities that have safeguarded and protected Subic Bay’s marine and coastal resources such as information and education campaigns, oil spill and fire exercises, and off shore clean-ups.

Using three SBMA watercrafts and two PNP Maritime patrol boats, the group cruised off shore and scooped plastics and other non-biodegradable litter from the water.

An hour into the clean up activity, the group proudly shared that only a few plastic trash and soda bottles and were collected. “This is the result of our regular clean ups around water bodies of the bay,” Aviles said.

“This activity will serve only as an exercise for the group. We expect that the real work will come during the rainy days when bulks of trash will be directed to areas surrounding the ports by strong winds and waves,” Aviles added.

Aviles explained that the offshore clean-up drive will be held every quarter, and may extend farther offshore with the added participation of more individuals and organizations who may wish to join in this environmental protection campaign. (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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DOLE, SBMA resumes educational assistance to Freeport stakeholders

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), has resumed offering assistance to students who wish to continue their education while working part-time in this premier Freeport.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino expressed appreciation for this program knowing that it will help less privileged but deserving college students see them through their dream of acquiring a college degree while working.

According to SBMA Labor Department manager Atty. Melvin Varias, the two agencies are offering the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) to students here who intend to pursue their education by giving financial assistance thru employment.

SPES is DOLE’s youth employment-bridging program that aims to provide temporary employment to poor but deserving students, out-of-school youth, and dependents of displaced or would-be displaced workers during summer or Christmas vacation.

The program was halted for some time when restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic prevented face-to-face interaction, and education went online.

Paulino urged Subic Bay Freeport investors to take part in the said program by providing income or augmenting their income by encouraging the beneficiaries’ employment.

“This will develop the intellectual capacities of children who came from poor families, and harness their potential, not just for the Subic Bay Freeport, but for the country’s well-being as well,” the chief added.

The SPES program stipulates that the company employing the students will only pay 60 percent of their salaries or wages, while the DOLE will pay 40 percent of their wages via education vouchers.

Participating companies here include First Subic Bay Food Ventures, Eddie and Julie G Food Corp, Yahu Uno G Food Corp, Kewen Industry Inc, and Tokiwa Subic Corp. who have already joined the program, with most of these companies under the fast food sector.

Varias said that there were 18 SPES beneficiaries in 2021. Seven of them already received their check voucher; while there are 53 SPES pledges for 2022, and three more companies joining the program.

Deadline for submission of SPES application is March 18.

Requirements for the SPES application include: a resume with 2x2 picture; birth/ baptismal certificate; form 138 for the third grading period for high school students; report of grades or academic class card and enrollment registration form for higher education or college.

The SPES also requires applicants to present their parents’ income tax returns or Bureau of Internal Revenues (BIR) form 2316 duly stamped and received by the agency, and the certificate of indigency or low income issued by the barangay or social welfare and development office of their respective local government units. (MPD-SBMA)

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Eisma turns over SBMA reins to Paulino

Atty. Wilma T. Eisma handed over her position as chairman and administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in a formal turnover ceremony on Monday (March 7) in front of the agency’s administration building, formally signaling the start of former Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino Sr.’s leadership.

Paulino, who became mayor of Olongapo City, also served as one of the volunteers of the SBMA during the transition of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) from being a United States Naval Base.

During his acceptance speech as chairman and administrator, Paulino said that his first priority is the beautification of the Subic Bay Freeport, now that most parts of the country are placed under alert level 1, particularly citing that he intends to make the area “greener” by planting more flora in tourism spots.

The new chief cited that he also wants to drum up the sports tourism scene of the SBFZ since the area is conducive to become the sports mecca of the country, while making the Freeport more appealing and investor-friendly. 

“Let us make Subic Bay Freeport attractive to all. And let us make each other’s lives easy,” Paulino said.

He also added, that the Covid-19 pandemic has seen a lot of closure from companies, and that he hopes that the easing up of restrictions would allow companies to look into locating into the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

On the matter of the employees of the agency, he said that former chairman Eisma has left him to their care, citing that he could not accomplish his task as chairman without their help. “I can’t do this alone, so I need each and everyone’s help,” he said.

He also urged the help of businessmen, locators, directors, stakeholders, and especially those in the ground to help him do what needs to be done to accomplish the mandate entrusted to him by President Duterte.

Meanwhile, former chairman Eisma said, “This job is not for the faint-hearted, and it really takes a village. I know Kuya Rolen (Paulino) has the chops to make it, but with your help, he can do so much more.”

She added that the new chairman’s success is the success of every employee of the SBMA.

“It is in the best interest of the Freeport community (not in your best interest) that Kuya Rolen succeeds, and he cannot do that without all of you,” she said, citing that regardless of who the chairman is, the love for Subic Freeport should always prevail.

President Duterte appointed Paulino to the top post on March 1 in Malacañan Palace, where Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea swore him in. Paulino said that the President appointed him as chairman and administrator of the SBMA for six years.

The appointment of Paulino came after the president accommodated the resignation of Eisma due to health reasons. President Duterte reappointed Eisma as a director of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) on March 1. (MPD-SBMA)

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Former Olongapo mayor Paulino takes over as SBMA chairman

A new head of agency took over the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) today after being appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday.

Former Olongapo City mayor Rolen Paulino Jr., one of the historic SBMA volunteers who propelled the Subic Bay Freeport’s economic miracle in 1992, became the eighth SBMA chairman and administrator, replacing Wilma T. Eisma who resigned on Tuesday.

Paulino took his oath of office in Malacañang before Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea also on Tuesday.

The new SBMA chief is expected to usher in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone into normalcy in face of the waning Covid-19 pandemic.

In his first day at work, Paulino met with department managers of the Subic agency, as well as officials of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce—marking his priority as the sustainability of business operations here.

“We need to chart a new course for Subic post-pandemic,” Paulino said on Wednesday. “As we all know, the Covid-19 health crisis also made a deep impact on business and productivity in this Freeport, so a lot of corrective measures need to be in place.” 

“I intend to tap the cooperation and support of all stakeholders in the Freeport and in the surrounding communities so that we can attract more business, employ more people, and make full economic recovery as soon as possible,” he added.

He added that he would pursue an inclusive policy so that SBMA programs and facilities would benefit more residents in nearby communities.

Paulino on Wednesday asked the SBMA board of directors to cancel the entrance fee to Remy Field, a popular sports venue here, so that residents, especially athletes and health enthusiasts, can use it freely. The SBMA previously charged an entrance fee of P20 for the upkeep of the facility.

“’Yung konting paglalaro ng mga bata, h’wag na nating singilin pa. Maliit na halaga ang entrance fee, kumpara sa mararamdaman nila na sa kanila ang Subic Bay Freeport,” Paulino said.

Paulino was first elected mayor of Olongapo City in 2013 and later on won another two successive terms. His son Rolen Jr., who is the incumbent mayor, succeeded him in 2019. (MPD-SBMA)

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Statement of Atty. Wilma T. Eisma on her resignation as SBMA Chairman & Administrator

 

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SBMA posts historic P387-M income in January

Boosted by a resurging seaport trade, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recorded an income of P387 million last January, the highest monthly revenue ever recorded in the Subic agency’s almost 30 years of history.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the operating revenue posted in January 2022 was higher by 92 million, or 31%, compared to that in the same period last year.

The highest monthly revenue previously recorded by the SBMA was P358 million in “pre-pandemic” June 2019. The other record highs were P343 million in December 2021; P337 million in October 2020; P324 million in October 2018; and P298 million in July 2017.

This record-breaking income in January, Eisma said, was accompanied by other positive indicators: an 11% increase in operating expense that was higher by P10 million; a 41% growth in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA); and a 20% increase in net income before tax with subsidy, which at P222 million was higher by P38 million.

Eisma pointed out that SBMA’s seaport operations alone contributed P221.4 million, with P91.62 million from cargo charges; P75.32 million in SBMA share from terminal income; P34.17 million in leases and rentals; and P12.28 million in vessel charges.

“We are hoping that this January record will be a foretaste of what’s to come in the succeeding months, as we ease down into normalcy with the waning Covid-19 pandemic,” said Eisma.

The SBMA, she added, “has really set its sights higher this year, especially with seaborne trade, after realizing an actual increase in container cargo traffic even at the height of the pandemic in 2021.”

According to a profit and loss statement from the SBMA Financial Planning and Budget Department, other than the P221 million from seaport operations, the agency’s January 2022 revenue of P387 million was enhanced by P111 million in land and building leases; P28 million in regulatory income; P8 million in housing leases; P6 million in airport operations; P.67 million in tourism collections; and P12 million in miscellaneous income.

Although land and building leases suffered a 1.8% decrease from its 2020 level of P113 million, it still contributed P64.73 million in land leases and P45.98 million in building leases this year, said SBMA budget officer Edith Marzal.

The slight decline in land and building leases was easily offset by a 65% increase in seaport income, a 35% rise in housing leases, and a 20% growth in miscellaneous income, Marzal added. 

She also said that SBMA airport operations income likewise showed a 6% increase in January 2022 compared to last year’s record, while regulatory fees grew by 8%, and tourism income by 48%.

Meanwhile, the SBMA reported an aggregate 11% increase in its expense accounts with P67 million in manpower payroll services; P12 million in debt servicing; P10 million in occupancy costs; P1 million in repair and maintenance; P.07 million in advertising and promotion; and P14 million in various services.

The single biggest item in SBMA expenses was manpower cost for regular employees, which stood at P64.7 million, followed by contractual services at P14 million. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA bullish over Subic seaborne trade with MSC maiden call

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is expecting a stronger position in regional seaborne trade this year following the maiden port call here last Wednesday of the shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), as well as the revived port visit of the Taiwanese shipping line Wan Hai.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the weekly port calls here of MSC, the world’s largest shipping company in terms of capacity, will further boost Subic’s trade capacity, which already generated US$1.58 billion in imports and US$1.03 billion in exports last year.

“My dream for the Subic Bay Freeport is for it to be among the top 50 biggest ports like Shanghai or Singapore. The fact that MSC, which is now the world’s largest container shipping line, chose Subic to be in its trade route not only gives Subic access to the world and vice versa, but also brings us one more step closer to that goal,” Eisma said.

She added that this year, the SBMA aims to generate an import value of US$1.77 billion and export value of US$1.42 billion, as the global economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic begin easing down.

MSC, which operates in all major ports in the world, began its Subic schedule to expand its Seahorse Service loop in Southeast Asia with the voyage of the MSC Sotiria III to Subic on Feb. 23. The 2,475-TEU container ship arrived at Subic’s New Container Terminal after a swing to the port of Manila on Feb. 21.

The maiden port call was attended by MSC general manager Pankaj Patki, SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Ronnie Yambao, Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC) CEO Justin C. Tolentino, and representatives of various shipping and logistics agencies and clientele.

Patki said the MSC Seahorse Service trade loop will call on Subic on a weekly basis with three container ships on rotation to provide comprehensive port coverage within Asia.

“MSC feels that there is a huge potential for growth, and we would like to cater to customers in this region who currently have had to travel all the way to Manila to load their cargoes,” Patki said, adding that more ship calls in Subic will be established in the near future.

The MSC Seahorse Service trade loop includes Tanjung Pelepas, Singapore, Manila, Subic, Kaohsiung, Vung Tau and then back to Tanjung Pelepas. Singapore and Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia both serve as major transshipment hubs for the Swiss shipping line and connect the rest of the Asian trade loop to Western and European trade services.

SBMA’s Yambao, meanwhile, pointed out that MSC is the 25th shipping line to service the port of Subic.

“This is an important milestone for Subic Bay and the shipping industry in general because it is an opportunity for the Freeport to be known globally in terms of logistics capability,” he said.

Yambao added the MSC is expected to service the needs of business locators not only in Subic, but also in Clark, Bataan and the rest of the economic zones in north Luzon.

MSC’s arrival came after the return of Wan Hai Lines, a Taiwanese company which previously cancelled its port rotation here due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It recently reopened its Subic Express Service (SES) route that includes Shekou, Subic, Batangas, Manila, Cebu, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Hong Kong.

The port of Subic currently has a container cargo capacity to 600,000 TEUs and also caters to different types of cargo like grain, dry bulk, and oil and petroleum.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 2021 report indicated the “predominance of Asia as a leading maritime freight area.” It said that in 2020, Asian ports loaded around 4.4 billion tons of goods, or over 41.3% of total goods loaded in ports worldwide, and received 7.0 billion tons, or 65.5% of total goods discharged worldwide. (MPD-SBMA)

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Subic spurs investor interests in Dubai trade mission

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has successfully pushed the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as a sustainable and competitive business and industrial center in the Philippines during a recent trade mission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

As a result, Subic has sparked strong investor interest in the fields of cargo logistics, renewable energy, aviation, vaccine manufacturing, and compliance solutions during business meetings held in the emirate city of Dubai on February 9 to 14, said SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma in a report to President Duterte.

Among the groups that Eisma discussed business potentials in Subic with are the Abu Dhabi Ports, a logistics operator and manager of industrial zones and ports in the UAE, and the Philippine Business Council of Dubai and Northern Emirates, which promotes cooperation among business communities in Dubai, the Northern Emirates and the Philippines.

Eisma also offered the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) as an alternative hub for the UAE flag-carrier Emirates during a meeting with Orhan Abbas, the firm’s senior vice president for the Far East. “This might increase the number of commercial flights from Dubai to the Philippines and from the Philippines to Dubai,” she added.

During the Dubai sojourn, Eisma likewise attended the Philippine Country Business Briefing headed by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Feb. 11, and participated the following day in the Philippine National Day, which was attended by thousands of Filipinos in Dubai.

“We have high hopes that Subic got the attention of major industry members in the UAE, especially with the endorsement we received from the Philippine Business Council of Dubai and the Northern Emirates,” Eisma said on Tuesday.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations Ronnie Yambao, who joined Eisma in Dubai, said the Subic team briefed businessmen and venture capitalists on trade opportunities in Subic during the weeklong mission and promoted it as a premier investment destination in the Southeast Asian Region.

On Feb. 9, Eisma’s team had a productive meeting with Suchit Kapoor, business director of the Abu Dhabi Ports Company, and Dogus Durhan, business manager of the Abu Dhabi Ports Group, and discussed cargo expansion, integrated technology, and a business model design through partnership.

Next, Eisma met with Jon Salazar, founder and president of Gazelle Wind Power, a Dublin-based producer of hybrid floating offshore wind platform, for a possible project to drive Subic’s renewable energy program.

Eisma then went on to talk with Stephan Thomas, senior director and CFO of Group 42 (G42), an artificial intelligence and cloud computing company with interests in healthcare, finance, oil and gas, aviation, and hospitality. G42 was looking for partners for a joint venture to manufacture and distribute Covid-19 vaccines in the Philippine and the Southeast Asian region.

Following that, the SBMA team met with Angeline Rivera, sales and marketing manager of Prime Group, a leading quality and compliance solutions provider in Asia, Middle East and Africa. Rivera said their company is considering Subic for its expansion program.

Lastly, Eisma coordinated promotion of the Subic Bay Freeport in the UAE with Prof. Gau G. Raganit, chairman of the Philippine Business Council of Dubai and Northern Emirates, which promotes trade among business communities in Dubai, the Northern Emirates and the Philippines. (MPD-SBMA)

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PAL ends repatriation flights via Subic Freeport

After almost nine months of flying home overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other returning Filipinos via this free port, the Philippine Air Lines (PAL) landed its last “Bayanihan” repatriation flight here on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

The last flight into Subic consisted of 77 passengers from Koror City in Palau, an archipelago of islands southeast of the Philippines with a substantial population of Filipino contract workers.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the government’s repatriation flights to Subic Bay was stopped after aviation authorities increased the capacity of inbound international passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) when Covid-19 restrictions were eased.

“So, there’s no more need for PAL to reroute OFW flights via Subic. It is a bittersweet moment for us because PAL’s repatriation flights here somewhat revived our airport operations and brought much- needed income to Subic hotels during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Eisma said on Tuesday.

“Still, the lifting of passenger capacity limit at the NAIA is a sign that we are going back to normal and this is most welcome,” she added.

Eisma said that at the height of the government OFW repatriation program, Subic was connected to 10 cities and major destinations in the Indo-Pacific area. These are Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia; Bahrain; Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE; Doha in Qatar; Macau, Palau, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and Diego Garcia.

She added that the use of Subic as an alternate port of since July last year has resulted in increased international aircraft and passenger movements, as well as improved income for the Subic airport.

According to Zharrex Santos, manager of the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA), PAL has made a total of 82 repatriation flights here since July when the SBIA was made an alternative hub under a government program to facilitate the return of OFWs during the Covid-19 pandemic. These did not include nine flights diverted to the nearby Clark Airport due to inclement weather.

With the 82 Bayanihan flights, a total of 20,522 passengers were processed through the Subic airport, then brought to Subic hotels for mandatory quarantine.

As of Feb. 6, the SBIA has generated more than P4.2 million in direct income from the PAL repatriation flights, Santos said.

Meanwhile, PAL consultant Charlie Yu expressed his gratitude to the SBMA, Bureau of Immigration (BOI), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard, Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA), and the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) for handling the repatriation program via the Subic airport.

He also thanked quarantine hotels and other tourism stakeholders in the Subic Freeport for their support and service to the inbound OFWs and other returning Filipinos who flew home through Subic. (MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Freeport Covid-19 cases drop to zero

The number of active Covid-19 cases in this special economic zone plunged to zero on Wednesday, February 9, after surging for three weeks in January when health authorities confirmed nationwide transmission of the Omicron variant.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said there was not any new case of Covid-19 here since then for both Subic Freeport residents and transient workers or guests, although two active cases remained among SBMA employees.

“This is a good sign. It looks like the Omicron surge has peaked last month, and that our vaccination program is really helping to arrest local infection,” Eisma said.

“Still, there is no reason to put our guards down. We must continue observing health protocols because this is the surest way out of the pandemic,” she added.

Data released by the SBMA on Wednesday showed that 39 residents of the Subic Bay Freeport, 14 transient workers, and 27 SBMA employees recently recovered from Covid-19 infection after quarantine and treatment, leading to the lowest case record in more than a month.

Said recovered residents tested positive between January 19 and February 1, while the recovered guest workers were infected between January 23 and January 21.

The SBMA employees, meanwhile, tested positive between January 23 and 31. The SBMA continues to monitor cases among its employees and reports on them even when these properly fall under the care of local government units where the employees reside, Eisma explained.

Dr. Solomon Jacalne, who heads the SBMA Public Health and Safety Department (PHSD), said the surge in Covid-19 cases here was consistent with Department of Health (DOH) findings that community transmission of the highly-infectious Omicron variant began in the second week of January.

“According to the DOH, 80% of the cases now are caused by the Omicron variant,” Jacalne said. “Again, this was consistent with our monitoring reports that those infected in Subic either travelled outside of the Freeport, or had some visitors coming in during the holidays,” he added.

PHSD monitoring indicated that the active cases began rising on January 1 when six Subic residents tested positive of the virus. By January 9, 36 residents were infected, and by January 18 a total of 78 active cases was recorded.

Among transient workers, meanwhile, the tally climbed from zero cases in January 1, to nine cases on January 9, and 17 cases on January 18.

Fortunately, most of those who fell ill only had mild symptoms and only four patients were admitted to the hospital, Jacalne said.

The cases began to taper off in the last week of January, dropping to only 27 active cases among residents as of January 28. At the same time, there were just 11 active cases among transient workers, and six among SBMA employees.

The total confirmed Covid-19 cases in Subic now stand at 421 for residents, 175 for transients, and 233 for SBMA employees. Meanwhile, the SBMA has recorded a total of 417 recoveries for Freeport residents, 171 for transients, and 224 for SBMA employees.

Despite the continuing downtrend, Jacalne also said that Subic stakeholders still need to continue with strict health protocols, and do only essential travel. “We cannot yet say that we’re at the end of a surge,” he added.

The SBMA, in partnership with the DOH, continues to roll out vaccines to residents, including those from outside the Freeport zone, with priority given to senior citizens for both basic and booster shots. (MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA records P3.47-Billion operating revenue

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) registered a revenue of P3.47 billion last year, capping the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic with an 8% growth in income and other major accomplishments in key performance areas.

In her 2021 annual report to President Duterte, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said that “while a few indicators remain impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the general trend is upward where the SBMA was able to accelerate growth and surpass its performance in the previous year.”

Foremost among the top performances Eisma told the President about was the operating revenue of the agency, which stood at P3.47 billion for the period ending December 2021. This was P270M or 8% higher compared to revenue in the same period in 2020, she added.

Eisma pointed out that most of the SBMA revenue came from leases and port operations, with land and building leases growing by 2% and contributing P1.38 billion, and seaport operations growing by 14% and generating P1.37 billion.

She also reported that the agency’s regulatory income increased by 11% and provided P408 million in revenue, while airport operations grew by 26% and contributed P79 million.

The SBMA chief likewise provided positive reports in investment and employment generation, tourism, imports and exports.

She said the SBMA recorded a total of 142,177 Subic Bay Freeport workers as of December 31, showing an employment increase of 2.31% from 138,966 workers in 2020. SBFZ business locators, meanwhile, numbered 1,737 SBFZ as of December 31, “continuing a slight upward trend since 2019,” Eisma said.

She added that new investments, including expansions, totaled P17.29 billion, higher than the 2020 record by P15.74 billion, or 1,011%. The 2021 record even topped the pre-pandemic 2019 level by P8.05 billion, or 87%, with the bulk comprised by a P15-billion commitment from a business locator, which proposed to develop the SBFZ marshalling yard.

Meanwhile, Eisma said that the pandemic-hit tourism industry in Subic “is recovering and has recorded a total of 7.3 million same-day visitors in 2021.” This was also higher than the 2020 record by 2.18 million or 42%, but still lower than the 2019 record by 2.2 million or 23%.

In terms of trade, Eisma said the Subic Bay Freeport “defied the negative impact of the pandemic by recording a total of US$1.58 billion import value in 2021, which was 49.53% higher than the 2020 import value of US$1.12 billion.”

On the other hand, Subic’s export value reached a total of US$1.37 billion, which was 32.42% higher than the 2020 export value of US$1.03 billion. Both import and export values respectively exceeded the 2019 pre-pandemic records by 8.12% and 6.73%, Eisma added.

At the same time, Chairman Eisma reported to President Duterte that the Subic Bay International Airport, which was tapped by the Department of Transportation last year to accommodate “Bayanihan” flights has recorded a total of 53 flights as of December 31, bringing home a total of 14,312 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and returning overseas Filipinos, and generating P3.17 million in direct revenues for the SBMA.

Eisma likewise reported that the SBMA’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout, which was a joint project with the Department of Health, has resulted in the administration of 22,251 vaccine doses as of the end of 2021.

Eisma assured the President that the SBMA “is doing its best to be more competitive and maintain a business-friendly environment in the Freeport, as we continue to support all the programs of the government to ensure the well-being and safety of everyone in the Subic Bay Freeport.” (MPD-SBMA)

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