What’s in store for the Subic Freeport Zone and the Clark Freeport Zone in 2024? The two growth centers are supposed to push development of a seamless supply chain in the Central Luzon and Northern Luzon regions but changes in the country’s leadership kept the holistic transformation of the two areas into a cohesive, formidable, and strategic catalyst for growth.
The deep-sea port of Subic and the international airport of Clark play a crucial role into the development of the supply chain in the Luzon Island. With cargo coming in via Subic and Clark, it will reduce transport cost of goods and raw materials that will fuel the industries in the countryside. For example, the industries in Central and Northern Luzon will no longer travel all the way to the Port of Manila or the Manila airports to get their raw materials and other supplies because of the presence of the deep-sea port on Subic and the Clark airport.
For 2023, newly-installed Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, has reported that the SBMA, the lead agency behind the Subic Freeport Zone, that it recorded 4.116 billion revenue in 2023 surpassing the 4.057 billion revenue collected in 2022.
Aliño says “good governance” and the exemplary people behind SBMA are walking the extra mile to push SBMA to a holistic development.
These stellar records will be broken in the coming years as long as the SBMA continues to stay true to its vision and mission, according to the former “Commodore” of the Subic Bay Yacht Club.
Said Aliño: “As long the SBMA commits to maintain investor confidence by pursuing continuous improvement, leveraging on technology and providing robust infrastructure, and as long as the agency empowers people and communities through shared stewardship and sustained good governance, Subic Bay Freeport is certain to become the preferred sustainable investment hub and eco-tourism destination in Asia Pacific by 2030.”
After some soul-searching and conversations with his family, who supported him all the way, Aliño said he is ready to take on the challenge in the Subic Freeport Zone. He has vowed that his administration will be “transparent.”
Aliño foresees a “positive” business outlook for this year that will be backed by “good governance” and “transparency.”
The Subic Freeport Zone currently has 1,816 locators, and is still one of the leading growth centers in Central Luzon with more Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) infused in the Subic cove. What was once the seat of US military might in Southeast Asia because of its strategic military importance during the Cold War, is a beehive of economic activities. Just in Clark, which is former home to the US 13th Air Force, the transformation into productive civilian use had not been easy.
Aliño with his business savvy is expected to further push development in the Subic Freeport. “There is potential here in Subic. With good governance we can invite more investors.”
“I want to sell SBMA (not only) locally but internationally,” said Aliño.
Well, Aliño should not only “sell” SBMA but the viability of the Subic Freeport Zone and its deep-sea port in the trans-Pacific sea lane that is being dominated by China.
In the meantime, let’s give the new SBMA Chairman and Administrator the chance to prove his mettle.