SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is now looking into a sister-port agreement with two Spanish ports following the visit of officials from the Federation of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce (FPACC).

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño said that FPACC President of Tourism Numeriano V. Bouffard had recommended in the courtesy call that Subic establish ties with the Ports of Barcelona and Bilbao to increase maritime trade.

“This is certainly welcome news to both our countries. Both the Ports of Barcelona and Bilbao are gearing towards conducting business in renewable energies, something that the Subic Bay Freeport could learn from,” Aliño said.

Aliño said that the agreement between Subic and the Spanish ports will be facilitated through the business network of FPACC as part of its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the SBMA to promote mutual business interests, trade, and business.

Bouffard was in the Subic Freeport to invite Aliño to be one of the panel speakers in a FPACC business event to be held in Orlando, Florida in June.

Aliño said the SBMA will launch trade missions in Spain this year, possibly during the third quarter, and in June 2025 in Orlando and Mexico to promote Subic ports and target companies engaged in logistics, renewable energy and manufacturing.

Currently, the Port of Barcelona is in the process of establishing a new zero-emission nautical bus service powered by solar panels or hydrogen. The said nautical bus service will also be connected to an electrical grid.

The management board of the Port of Barcelona has also approved the use of six hectares of area in the energy wharf for future green fuels and manufacturing plants.

Meanwhile, the Port Authority of Bilbao is also preparing for the second phase of the central breakwater and the electrification of docks, providing ships with electricity while their engines are turned off. The electrification of these docks would reduce carbon dioxide emissions, sounds and vibrations. 