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Subic Freeport gears up for summer-long activities 2017 SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – With the successful holding of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Beach Volleyball Tournament and the Tribal Games here, this premier Freeport once again showed that it is now prepped for summer-long activities. According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator, Atty. Wilma Eisma, the agency’s Tourism Department has planned numerous summer-fun activities that will maintain this Freeport as the top tourist destination of Luzon. “Aside from the usual crowd drawers like the Ocean Adventure Marine Theme Park and Zoobic Safari, Subic Freeport has much to offer. One of the highest number of tourist activities is the occupancy of hotels that have swimming pools and beaches,” she said. And with the addition of the new Moonbay Marina Wave Pool, expect the influx of tourists to increase, she said. She also pointed out that the area is home to some of the pristine beaches in Luzon, including the Camayan Beach Resort, Adventure Beach, All Hands Beach and the Anvaya Beach Resort. “There is really never a dull moment when you’re here in Subic Freeport. If you plan to have a more adventurous summer vacation, you could stop by at the Networx Jetsports Subic Bay that has a hoverboard, parasailing, and jetski rentals,” she said. Other fun activities that tourists can do during their stay in the Subic Freeport are to go to Tree Top Adventure and try the rides high above the ground. Zipline rides such as the Canopy Ride, the Superman Ride, the Silver Surfer, and Interactive Freefall are just some of the activities tourists can enjoy. Meanwhile, for the tourist who is more into nature, Subic Freeport offers a glimpse of how to live like an Aeta tribesman of the old where they can cook food and rice using bamboos, go trekking at the Pamulaklakin Trail that is full of trees, or just simply go bird watching at the Apaliin Trail. “With these much activities, we will surely be hailed as the top tourist destination in Central Luzon, and probably be among the top tourist destination in Luzon,” Eisma said. (c) sbma media team

The Subic Bay Freeport community joins World Wetlands Day celebration SUBIC BAY FREEPORT- The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) launched the 1st Subic Bay Wetlands Celebration Wednesday (Feb. 1), joining the international community in celebrating this year’s World Wetlands Day. With the theme “Wetlands for disaster risk reduction”, the two-day Subic celebration culminated with the holding of Biay Mangrove Adventure with around 150 employees and environmental officers from different companies participating in various activities related to mangrove protection. SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma said the activity which was spearheaded by the agency’s environment arm, the Ecology Center, was aimed at educating the participants on the importance of wetlands to the coastal communities, the environment and marine life. “We appreciate the participants for sharing their time in raising public awareness about the importance of the wetlands and contribute to the conservation and protection of our mangrove forests,” she said. Inside the Freeport’s Binictican-Malawaan Mangrove Area, participants were divided into groups: one group assigned to pick-up, identify and record trash and garbage found inside the mangrove area, and another to plant mangrove samplings to “vacant” portions of the area. Another group was assigned to count and record how many living crustaceans they could find in the selected one square meter-area of the wetland to determine the biodiversity in the area. SBMA Ecology Center head Amethya Dela Llana-Koval said the records will be used as reference in formulating a mangrove management plan that will define guidelines and policies related to the protection and conservation of all mangrove areas in the Freeport. There is an estimated 62 hectares of wetlands in Subic Freeport located in Boton, Binictican-Malawaan, Triboa A, Triboa B, Nabasan and Ilanin, where 37 species of mangroves are found and serve as feeding, spawning and nursery grounds to many marine life and considered as nature’s buffer to natural hazards such as flooding caused by storms, cyclones, storm surges and tsunamis. Among the objectives of the MMP is to regulate the harvesting of all resources, such as fish, crabs, woods among others, inside the mangrove areas through the help of a community-based monitoring team. - more - Koval also lauded Administrator Eisma for her support to environment-related activities of Ecology Center, including the launching of 1st Subic Bay Wetlands Day celebration. In a meeting with environmental officers prior to celebration day, Koval remarked that Eisma is supporting all programs of the Ecology Center, particularly one that penalizes litterers and trash throwers in the Freeport zone. “Galit ang ating Administrator sa basura na madalas makita sa ating mangrove areas na madalas maging sanhi ng pagkasira ng ating bakawan at pagkaubos ng mga yamang tubig,” she said. She noted that one may not realize the importance of mangroves until the day we lose our water resources and habitat. “Mangroves are the life of our water resources. When the eco-system is put in danger by destroying the mangrove areas, other parts of the environment are also affected,” she explained. World Wetlands Day was first celebrated internationally in 1997 and held every 2nd of February by holding activities to raise public awareness and promote the conservation and protection of wetlands including seminars, mangrove adventures, festivities and other activities. (30) PHOTO CAPTIONS: IMG_1928 An indigenous Aeta woman joins other volunteers in planting mangrove saplings during the celebration of World Wetlands Day at the Malawaan-Binictican mangrove area in Subic Bay Freeport Thursday (Feb. 02) morning. Celebrated every February 2 each year, World Wetlands Day with this year’s theme “Wetlands for Disaster Risks Reduction”, marks the date of the adaption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 02, 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. _PA_0680 Volunteers conduct an epifaunal survey using a quadrant frame, a method in determining and counting living species in swamplands. The activity was part of the celebration of World Wetlands Day at the Malawaan-Binictican mangrove area in Subic Bay Freeport Thursday (Feb. 02) morning. Celebrated every February 2 each year, World Wetlands Day, with this year’s theme “Wetlands for Disaster Risks Reduction”, marks the date of the adaption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 02, 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. (c)SBMA MEDIA TEAM

Toyota dealership breaks ground in Subic Bay SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Toyota Subic Inc. (TSI) will start construction of its P150-million multi-level showroom and service center following the groundbreaking of its 10,000 square-meter facility in this premier freeport. “If there is anything that we can help you even more, don’t hesitate. There are a lot of other business opportunities, and we hope to do more business with you.” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Wilma T. Eisma told TSI during the ceremony held Monday (Feb. 13) at the Subic Gateway District where the facility will soon rise. For his part, TSI Chairman Dr. David Go said he is confident that with SBMA as partner, their new endeavor in Subic will be able to sail progressively against any tide. “Opening a new facility is always paved with many difficulties. Nothing really is ever easy at the start, even with a product with key competitive advantages of quality, affordability, and worry free ownership,” Go said. “It is still backed up with required huge capital funding, strategic location, state-of-the-art facilities, and exemplary employees,” he added. TSI, a joint partnership between GT Capital Auto Dealership Holdings Inc. (GTCAD) and JBT Global Holdings Inc. together with its automotive subsidiary, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp, is expected to be fully operational on or before December of this year. Jose B. Tan Jr., President of TSI said Toyota is the top selling brand for passenger and commercial vehicles in the country since 2002. “Toyota holds 40% share of the Philippine market as of December 2016, with a unique and distinguished dealership personality that they enjoy exploring,” he said. TSI is the seventh dealership facility with the ongoing construction of the sixth dealership facility in the City of Tuguegarao. (30) PHOTO: SBMA Administrator Wilma T. Eisma (center) joins Toyota Motors executives (from left) Jose B. Tan, President, Toyota Subic, Inc.; Kei Mizugushi, Executive Vice-President, Toyota Motor Philippines, Marketing Division; Dr. David Go, Chairman. Toyota Subic, Inc. and Carmelo Maria Bautista, President GT Capital Holdings, Inc and Director of Toyota Subic, Inc, during the groundbreaking ceremony at the Subic Bay Gateway district in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (c) SBMA MEDIA TEAM

OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF SBMA REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF SUBIC BAY EXPLORATORIUM SBMEI CEO

Official statement of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority re: takeover of Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, Inc. (SBMEI) The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) strongly condemns the use of undue force by the new management of the Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, Inc. (SBMEI) in the takeover of the Ocean Adventure facility late evening Monday (February 13, 2017). The actions taken by the new SBMEI management headed by Mr. Scott Sharpe were clearly not in accordance with proper and lawful procedures strictly enforced in the Freeport. From the presence of the PNP-SAF in the premises without prior coordination with the SBMA, to the sudden and forceful takeover of the facility’s security by another agency, these actions by the new management created a highly volatile situation. While the SBMA has no intention to involve itself in intra-corporate disputes, we will act accordingly when peace and order and the rule of law in the freeport is being challenged, and the safety and welfare of freeport employees and personnel are put in danger. The SBMA has ordered the SBMEI to explain within forty-eight hours why the incident happened, as well as provide the agency answers regarding the status of its intra-corporate case/s and the changes in its corporate officers and rank and file employees resulting from the dispute. We are expecting SBMEI’s full cooperation to ensure that nothing of this sort will happen again, settle their internal disputes and normalize the operations of Ocean Adventure. ATTY. WILMA T. EISMA Administrator

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100th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING FATHER AND FIRST ELECTED MAYOR OF OLONGAPO,

JAMES LEONARD TAGLE GORDON

When : January 17, 2017 9AM

Venue: Rivera Wharf, Harrison Rd., Subic Bay Freeport Zone

A wreath laying ceremony to be led by his children at Tappan Park will precede the program.

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16 January 2017

SBMA’s first lady administrator and CEO assumes post

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT— Lawyer Wilma “Amy” T. Eisma assumes her post as the seventh administrator and chief executive officer(CEO) of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

A member of original volunteer corp who stepped up to protect the former naval base in Subic after the pull-out of the US bases in 1992, Atty. Eisma was warmly welcomed back to her “home” by agency officials and employees in a simple program held during the agency’s flagraising ceremony Monday (January 16).

The program highlights the passing of the SBMA flag symbolizing the turnover of the helm to Eisma, the agency’s first woman administrator and CEO, from her predecessor Roberto V. Garcia.

The ceremony was also witnessed by the members of the SBMA Board of Directors and local government officials from Olongapo City, and the contiguous provinces of Zambales and Bataan.

Eisma was appointed to the post by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on December 21, 2016, vice Garcia.

She formally took her oath of office as SBMA Administrator before President Duterte in Malacañang on January 9, 2017 along with the new members of the SBMA Board of Directors Benny Diaz Antiporda, Maria Cecilia Bobadilla Bitare, Tomas Lahom III and Stefani Creer Saño.

As administrator and CEO, Eisma shall also sit as vice chair to the SBMA Board of Directors.

Born and raised in Olongapo City, Eisma is a seasoned lawyer with over 23 years of experience in both government service and the private sector.

Prior to her appointment, she was the Sustainability and Contributions Manager of PMFTC Inc., the Philippine affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), with 16 years of service in various management capacities looking over corporate, government and regulatory affairs, community and farmer relations, sustainability, contributions, and diversity and inclusion initiatives of the company. She was instrumental in PMI’s decision to locate its regional tobacco warehouse for Asia Pacific in Subic Bay Freeport.

Her stint in the tobacco firm earned her various international awards in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and her work ethic, agility and leadership skills has earned her coveted corporate awards among them the PMI President’s Award in 2005, and the PMI Excellence Award in 2003, 2007 and 2011. She was also an awardee of the PMI Best Contribution Program in 2009 and the PMI Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award in 2010.

Atty. Eisma is very much at home in SBMA. As a young lawyer, she started her career as the Executive Assistant to the Chairman and member of the Legal Department at the time of the agency’s formation and foundation from 1993 to 1998. During this period, she was also qualified by the Civil Service Executive Board required to hold higher positions in government

She represented SBMA in local judicial courts and oversaw the Housing Department of SBMA in managing negotiation and collection.

She was also a member of the team that successfully negotiated assistance of the World Bank to SBMA including the entry/investment of Federal Express, and various international and local investors resulting to thousands of jobs.

Before joining the private sector, she continued life in the public service as head executive assistant and legal counsel to the majority floor of the House of Representatives, and as chief of staff of the secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry from 2000-2001.

A member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, she holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence, Ateneo De Manila University, College of Law. She was also a member of the Philippine Delegation, 1989 UNIV Forum…

SBMA Chairman and Head of Agency, also the concurrent Manager of the Law Enforcement Department Hon. Martin B. Dino lead the releasing of turtle hatchlings at All Hands Beach Resort in Subic Bay Freeport zone.

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OLONGAPO SUBIC MARDIGRAS FESTIVAL 2016

Different tourism destinations and theme parks inside the Subic Bay Freeport zone were showcased at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority sponsored stage during the 3-day Mardigras in Olongapo City.

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Subic Bay launches FIGHT ILLICIT TRADE- "Fight It"

Details: The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) anti-illicit campaign, as embodied by the Fight Illicit Trade Movement (Fight IT), shares a vision of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in promoting local industry growth free of illegal trade and smuggling to help create jobs, ensure industry competitiveness and protect consumers.

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07 October 2016

Diño sets to expand Subic, widen Freeport trade

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Newly-appointed chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Martin Diño is eyeing to strengthen and widen trade in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in order to generate more investment and livelihood opportunities in the Subic Bay area.

Diño, who took over the helm of the Subic agency last Monday, said the SBMA under his administration will seek to maximize the use of the Subic port and develop more business districts for investors.

“We need to maximize the use of the Subic port, especially the container terminal here, to bring in more business and, at the same time, help solve the traffic congestion in Manila ports,” the new chairman said during a media briefing following the turnover ceremony last Monday.

“At the same time, we should find ways to accommodate more investments because the available area for further development in Subic is now very much limited,” he added.

Diño noted that the capacity of the New Container Terminal 1 and 2 in the Subic Bay Freeport “is more than enough to handle all the containers originating from and bound for Central and Northern Luzon.”

However, he said there is a need to develop a bigger logistics area that would cater to the needs of the growing number of port users.

“This is why we need to explore the transfer of the Bataan Technology Park, Inc. to the management of the SBMA,” Diño said. “We can spur the development of the entire area of BTPI into a central business district for shippers, logistics, and other related industries, as the Subic Bay Freeport is already running out of developable lands.”

The 380-hectare BTPI is located in Barangay Sabang, Morong, Bataan, about 30 minutes away from the Subic Bay Freeport’s central business district. Once a UN High Commission’s Refugee Processing Center, the BTPI is ideal for light and customized manufacturing industries.

Under Proclamation No. 532, which delineates the metes and bounds of the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone, Subic has a total land and water area of 67,452 hectares more or less. Out of this, the fenced area where much development has taken place is approximately 14,000 hectares, including portion of the Redondo Peninsula.

However, out of the fenced area, only about 2,800 hectares or about 20% is developable, while the remaining 11,200 hectares or about 80% of the total land and water area are high slopes, forests, and protected areas.

To address the problem of land scarcity in Subic, Diño said the SBMA must maximize the use of all available facilities and pursue an expansion program.

He added that his office will initiate multi-lateral dialogues with the City of Olongapo, the municipalities of Morong and Hermosa in Bataan, and the town of San Antonio in Zambales to identify areas for possible development. (30)

PHOTO:

Chairman Diño gestures with a “Duterte fist” upon assuming the SBMA post on Monday.

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03 October 2016

Chairman Diño assumes SBMA office

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Newly appointed chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Martin Diño formally took over the rein of the Subic agency on Monday in a turn-over ceremony held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center here.

In his first public appearance before employees of SBMA, Diño accepted the official SBMA flag from outgoing Chairman Roberto Garcia and pledged to make Subic the best free port in Asia.

Diño was joined in the turnover by his transition team, members from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), and son Marvin Diño, who will serve as his chief of staff.

In his acceptance speech, Diño lauded the accomplishments of officials and employees of the SBMA headed by Garcia, noting that they successfully implemented a financial turnaround for the agency.

Diño said that he envisioned a healthier financial status for the SBMA, and that he would strive to make Subic more business-friendly.

“I will work hard to make the best of it,” he added.

“Our sole objective is to make Subic the best free port in Asia,” Diño also said. “Chairman Garcia has already paved the way for Subic towards becoming the number one free port in Asia; it’s our turn to make that happen,” he added.

The former barangay chairman and head of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) also pointed out that while he has no degree in business or recognition from financial institutions, he has a direct line to the President and that he intends to use this to further develop Subic.

He said that when he was offered the position of SBMA chairman, President Duterte asked him to make Subic more attractive to investments, and to make the free port more developed.

Diño also mentioned that the President plans to transfer to Subic half of the transshipment activities in the South and North Harbors in Manila, to help decongest the port and streets of Metro Manila and to maximize Subic’s port capacity.

He also expressed concern for the former Subic volunteers whom he described as the first heroes of SBMA, adding that he will look into how the agency could repay their sacrifices.

Meanwhile, outgoing chairman Garcia highlighted in his turn-over speech his administration’s accomplishments that made Subic the most progressive free port in the country, as well as the Number 1 tourist destination in Central Luzon and Number 4 nationwide.

Garcia also noted that under his administration, the revenue collection of SBMA jumped from P1.39 billion in 2011 to P2.75 billion in 2015, while its total available cash increased from P595 million in 2011 to P2.75 billion 2015.

“These accomplishments had made SBMA the 11th among government-owned and -controlled corporations in terms of dividends remitted to the national government last year,” he said. (30)

PHOTOS: Outgoing SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (left) turns over the agency’s flag to newly-appointed Chairman Martin V. Diño in a formal ceremony on Monday at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.

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30 September 2016

‘Sunshine on a rainy day’: SBMA conducts Ayta outreach project in Subic town

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Despite inclement weather, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) brought joy and cheer to Ayta students in Subic, Zambales, through an outreach project conducted by the SBMA Tourism Department.

SBMA Tourism Department manager Mary Jamelle Camba and her staff, along members of the Rotary Club of Subic Pearl, turned over sacks of rice, canned good, noodles, and other foodstuff to the St. Francis Learning Center Foundation, Inc. (SFLCFI), which is run by Franciscan sisters headed by Sis. Mary Francis Borje.

Camba said the project was in line with the month-long celebration by the SBMA of the 2016 National Tourism Month.

No less than 250 elementary and high school mostly Ayta students of St. Francis benefited from the project, which was sponsored by a number of business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Sister Mary said the SBMA outreach project was a big relief not only to the sisters and teachers who always tried to make ends meet to feed and support the school children of the center, but also to the children from poor families.

One of them, nine-year old Aaron Ioncellas, who is on Grade 3 at the center, couldn’t hide his happiness upon receiving his box of lunch containing a piece of chicken, rice, and chocolate brownies. But Aaron didn’t take his lunch, and said he was bringing it home to his four younger siblings instead.

The SFLCFI, according to Sister Mary, was established in 1991 to help members of the Ayta community in the mountains of Sitio Nibangon, Mangan-Vaca, Subic, Zambales, whose socio-economic life was severely affected by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.

Starting out with two small shacks built by the Aytas from donated scrap wood, a handful of Franciscan nuns started teaching mostly illiterate Ayta adults the rudiments of reading and writing, as well as some basic livelihood skills.

The Ayta elders later appealed to the nuns to accommodate their children as well.

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“Today, the SFLCFI is now recognized by the Department of Education as a registered educational institution that can accept Grade 1 to Grade 6 and senior high school students,” Sister Mary said.

Taking pride in the project, SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the Subic agency has been prioritizing outreach activities like this to help in promoting inclusive growth in the Subic Bay Freeport community.

“This is just a ray of sunshine on a rainy day, and the SBMA is happy to be a critical part in the development of the local communities year in and year out, inclement weather or not,” Garcia said.

As manager of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, which straddles parts of the provinces of Zambales and Bataan, the SBMA releases millions in semi-annual development assistance to nearby local government units through the so-called LGU shares.

Just last month, the SBMA released a total of P141.4 million to four towns and one city in Zambales, and three municipalities in Bataan as their revenue shares for the first half of 2016.

Garcia said the revenue shares are to be used for community development projects, including those for health, education, peace and order, and livelihood programs to enable communities near the Subic Bay Freeport to keep pace with developments in the special economic zone. (30)

PHOTOS:

[1] SBMA tourism staff and members of the Rotary Club of Subic Pearl join Ayta natives in a traditional tribal dance during an outreach project at the St. Francis Learning Center in Sitio Nibangon, Mangan-Vaca, Subic, Zambales. [2] SBMA tourism staff and members of the Rotary Club of Subic Pearl with the Ayta children and their mentors during an outreach project at the St. Francis Learning Center in Sitio Nibangon, Mangan-Vaca, Subic, Zambales.

MV Subic Bay Philippines- why it’s funtastic in Subic!

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No need to worry, Garcia assures Hanjin-Subic workers

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia has assured workers of Subic shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) that their company is not affected by the problem besetting Hanjin Shipping Corporation.

“I think that the Hanjin workers in Subic have nothing to worry about because the financial woes affecting Hanjin Shipping has no impact on Subic,” Garcia said.

“They can rest assured that the Hanjin company in Subic is a separate entity and the one here is very stable,” Garcia added.

The Subic official issued the statement following inquiries from workers at HHIC-Phil’s Redondo Peninsula shipyard in this free port after Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd., reputedly the world’s seventh largest shipping line, filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States last Friday.

Accordingly, the Korean shipping line was left bankrupt when creditor-banks rejected its debt-restructuring plan. Lately, Hanjin Group, which is its parent company, has announced it will out up $90 million to bail out the shipping line.

Garcia pointed out that the shipbuilding firm Hanjin in Subic Freeport and the bankrupt company Hanjin Shipping are two separate entities.

“HHIC-Phil is not related to Hanjin Shipping, so there is no need to worry,” he said, pointing out that the Subic shipbuilder has separated from the Hanjin Group in 2005.

Earlier, HHIC-Phil Managing Director for External Trade Yoo Hoan Jo also said that the Subic shipbuilding firm remains financially healthy and stable.

“Despite what is happening in the shipping industry, orders for container ships are still coming,” Jo said in a statement. He said the new orders include three Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) that will have the capacity to carry 20,600 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers in one hauling.

The HHIC-Phil official added that the new projects “would likely mean additional workers for the completion of these three ULCVs.”

Jo said that “the tried and tested Filipino workers at the Subic shipyard” has helped Hanjin deliver 91 vessels since it started full operation at the Redondo Peninsula in 2008.

He added that the company has delivered 16 vessels last year and has numerous orders this year, including the three ULCVs.

Jo also said that the Subic shipbuilder now has 35,000 direct and indirect employees working on various operations at HHIC-Phil’s Subic facility. (30)

PHOTO:

The Hanjin shipbuilding facility at the Subic Bay Freeport

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Subic Bay now 4th leading Philippine destination - DOT

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Subic Bay is now the fourth most popular tourism destination in the Philippines.

Department of Tourism Region III Director Ronaldo P. Tiotuico announced in a press statement that the Subic Bay Freeport and the rest of Zambales soared to the fourth slot among the top ten destinations throughout the country, bested only by Cebu, Davao and Camarines Sur.

Tiotuico said the Subic Bay Freeport made big strides by hosting some 1.67 million domestic and foreign visitors in 2015, thus marking a 28-percent increase in the number of visitors from 1.265 million in 2014.

The DOT official also cited the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) as instrumental in developing Subic as a major tourist destination in Central Luzon.

“Such a success is attributed to the collective determination of the entire manpower complement of the SBMA under the leadership of Chairman Roberto Garcia,” Tiotuico said.

SBMA Chairman Garcia welcomed the development, pointing out that Subic gained significant attention after it was first recognized by the DOT as the number one tourist destination in Central Luzon in 2013.

“This only validates Subic’s attractiveness not only as top tourist destination, but also as the convention capital of Central Luzon – titles bestowed upon Subic by the DOT,” Garcia said.

Mary Jamelle Camba, SBMA Tourism Department manager, said Subic has become a favorite location for watersports tourism and nature-related activities.

She also said the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) has become a prominent venue for international events and conferences as it has a capacity of 10,000 seats.

Camba added that the Subic Bay Freeport can now accommodate a bigger number of visitors, as it currently boasts of 44 hotels with a total of 3,244 rooms.

The SBMA Tourism Department recently participated in the Asia Cruise Destination Forum in Jeju, South Korea to promote Subic Bay to the world tourism community as an emerging pivotal hub for international cruise tourism.

In the same statement, Tiotuico made a fearless forecast that Subic may just become the number one destination in the future, as the full transformation of Clark International Airport as a major hub for both international and domestic airlines may also benefit Subic tourism.

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“Subic is just a 45-minute drive from Clark. DOT Region III has always recommended the partnering of Clark and Subic as one great holistic destination, the two being connected by a world-class seamless freeway called SCTEx,” Tiotuico explained.

Tiotuico also described Subic Bay as a well-preserved eco-tourism destination, with triple-canopied rainforests and mangroves, mountain trails and indigenous culture, nature-based theme parks and bird-watching sites.

Among the rest of the top ten destinations in 2015 were Boracay, Albay/Legazpi City, Metro Manila, Clark/Pampanga, Laguna and Benguet/Baguio City. (30)

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DOT R3 CITES SUBIC AS ONE OF TOP 10 DESTINATIONS

The Department of Tourism – Region III recently recognized Subic Bay Freeport and the rest of Zambales province for having occupied the No. 4 slot among the top ten best destinations throughout the country in 2015. It is only bested by no less than Cebu, Davao and Camarines Sur – in that order.

This was the announcement made by Regional Director Ronaldo P. Tiotuico of the Central Luzon regional office in a press statement issued recently.

Tiotuico said that, in a partial report submitted by the Research & Planning Division of the tourism department, Subic Bay Freeport made big strides in hosting some 1.627M domestic and foreign visitors in 2015 while hosting some P1.265M visitors in 2014 for an increase of 28%.

Tiotuico attributed such a success to the collective determination of the entire manpower complement of SBMA under the leadership of Chairman Roberto Garcia who was instrumental in developing Subic as a major tourist destination in this part of the region. The tourism department on the other hand is led by its manager Jem A. Camba.

For her part, Ms. Camba said that Subic has become a favorite location for water sports tourism and nature – related activities. Its convention center has a capacity of 10,000 seats – a favorite venue for international events and conferences. The entire province of Zambales has a total room capacity of 3,418 and of this number some 1,279 rooms belong to Subic Bay Freeport.

A well-preserved eco-tourism destination with triple-canopied rainforests and mangroves, mountain trails and indigenous culture, nature-based theme parks and bird-watching sites, Subic may just be the number one destination in the near future as we now await the full transformation of Clark International Airport as a major hub for both international and domestic airlines. Subic is a measly 45 minutes’ drive from Clark. DOT R3 has always recommended the partnering of Clark and Subic as one great holistic destination - the two being connected by a world-class seamless freeway called SCTex.

Its tourism department recently participated in the Asia Cruise Tourism Forum in Jeju, South Korea, this time to share with the world tourism community the potential of Subic as an emerging pivotal hub for international cruise tourism. Apart from all these, Subic has now become the center for any and all activities worth driving thru: eco-tourism, sports and adventure, dive sites, MICE destination, location shoot venue, duty-free shopping, night life, ideal for senior living, among others.

Among the rest of the top ten destinations in 2015 include Boracay, Albay / Legazpi City, Metro Manila, Clark / Pampanga, Laguna and Benguet.

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