Subic Bay Freeport – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Wednesday, April 10, 2025, focused on optimizing customs operations, encouraging investment inflows, and reinforcing strategic oversight of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The MOA was signed by BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio and SBMA Chairman and Administrator Engr. Eduardo Jose L. Aliño and was witnessed by Atty. Marlon Fritz B. Broto, District Collector of the Port of Subic and other SBMA Senior officials.
The agreement reflects the long-standing cooperation between the two agencies, acknowledging the strategic value of BOC’s continued presence in the Freeport. The BOC, which has been in the zone for more than 18 years, serves a critical function in revenue collection, trade facilitation, and border protection in the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone (SSEZ), as established under Republic Act No. 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992.
“The Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Bureau of Customs not only represents a 25-year, rent-free tenure within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone but most importantly it is a powerful, resounding affirmation of the enduring, symbiotic partnership that binds our two institutions,” said Commissioner Rubio.
“We are confident that this partnership will lead to a surge in trade volumes, the attraction of new investments, and a substantial boost in revenue collection that will fund our government’s projects and uplift the lives of every Filipino,” he added.
The BOC and the SBMA expressed shared commitment to strengthen customs operations within the Freeport Zone. Under the agreement, the BOC ensures the proper maintenance of its facilities, compliance with environmental standards, and secure management of confiscated goods, while SBMA provides access to properties vital to customs functions. This partnership enhances operational efficiency, reinforces border security, and supports trade facilitation in the area.
SBMA Chairman Eduardo Aliño, in his remarks, underscored the importance of the MOA, stressing the mutual goal of the BOC and the SBMA to develop a new, modern Port of Subic (POS) building, and stated, “The impact or benefit of a new POS building extends far beyond the infrastructure itself. We are confident that, upon completion, this facility will enhance services and provide greater convenience for both Bureau of Customs clients and pre-port stakeholders.”
SBMA Chairman Eduardo Aliño, in his remarks, underscored the importance of the MOA, stressing the mutual goal of the BOC and the SBMA to develop a new, modern Port of Subic (POS) building, and stated, “The impact or benefit of a new POS building extends far beyond the infrastructure itself. We are confident that, upon completion, this facility will enhance services and provide greater convenience for both Bureau of Customs clients and pre-port stakeholders.”
Meanwhile, District Collector Broto asserted, “For SBMA, this deepened and revitalized partnership with BOC is not merely advantageous. It is a foundation for our continued success and future aspirations. Conversely, for BOC, this agreement provides a stable, predictable, and empowering framework for strategic long-term planning and development of future approved infrastructure and confident implementation of transformative solutions.”
“This pact highlights a common vision between the BOC and SBMA to make Subic more competitive, spur foreign direct investment, and improve national revenue collection — all in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s socioeconomic program to increase bureaucratic effectiveness, deepen institutional cooperation, and sustain trade development,” Broto added.