SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has stepped its services to stakeholders with the purchase of 44 brand new vehicles.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan said the agency is in dire need of replacing old vehicles with ones that can be used by employees in day-to-day operations.

“If we improve our quality of work, the more we could attract investors, the more jobs we could generate for our communities, not only for our present day job-seekers, but for the next generations to come,” Tan said.  

He added that with the new direction that the agency is taking, improving the working environment is a step to start with.

“Our vision for the Subic Bay Freeport is to become the preferred sustainable investment hub and eco-tourism destination in Asia Pacific by 2030. One of our steps towards achieving that goal is to ensure that the operating systems of the SBMA are presentable to viable investors,” he said.

The 44 new vehicles include 10 new patrol cars, five multipurpose vehicles, six 4×2 pickup compact trucks, seven 4×4 pickup compact trucks, eight passenger vans, four 4×4 pickups, and four 4×2 pickups, amounting to ₱73.5 million.

San Roque Chapel Chaplain Father Noel Montes blessed the new vehicles in front of the SBMA administration building on Monday, with Tan assisting the cleric in the ceremony.

Tan reminded officials and employees of the SBMA that the vehicles were purchased from taxpayers’ money, and that they have the responsibility of taking care of them.

Meanwhile, Tan disclosed that the agency is eyeing the purchase of electric buses and creating more bus stops, especially in housing areas like Binictican and Kalayaan.

He said that these e-buses would also provide free rides for SBMA employees.

“We have a community here, therefore we need a public transportation system,” Tan said.

He added that the agency has created a technical working group that would address the problem of public transportation inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Tan also noted that Subic nightlife was next to nil since most of the resto and bars close early.

“One of the main reasons for the early closure is the lack of public transportation system in the late hours of the night. We do have taxis, but for a simple employee of a restaurant or bar, taking the cab everyday would certainly hurt his or her income,” Tan pointed out. 

TOP PHOTO: SBMA Chairman and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan receives the ceremonial key from Toyota Motor Philippines Sales Manager Glacelyn Macaranas for the agency’s 44 new vehicles.