By Henry Empeño | July 17, 2024

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT —At least seven big-ticket infrastructure projects are scheduled by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for completion here by 2028 under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

This was announced by SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño during the “Build Better More” Infrastructure Forum held at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac last week, a statement from the SBMA said.

The plans include a Carbon Neutral Port project which will cost P250 million; a truck logistics facility project at P100 million; a socialized housing project at P2 billion; a workers’ dormitory project at P960 million; the Subic Bay Smart City Project at P224 million; the SBMA Center for Excellence at P21 million; and the Subic Bay International Airport Hotel at P4.3 billion, for a total of P7.8 billion.

Topping the list, Aliño said, is the Shore Power Connection for Carbon Neutral Ports project which will make Subic the first Philippine port with shore power connection for ships.

“This will provide shoreside electrical power to a ship at berth while its main and auxiliary engines are shut down. Shore power cuts air pollution from ships at berth by 95 percent,” he said.

Phase 1 of the project will be at the New Container Terminal in 2025 at the cost of P100 million, while Phase 2 will cover both the Naval Supply Depot and Ship Repair Facility from 2026 to 2027 at P150 million.

The second project, Aliño said, will be the Logistics Facility for Trucking Services, a state-of-the-art truck holding facility at the Tipo area near the Subic end of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

The project, which will include automated gates, optical plate scanners and amenities for truck drivers and clients, will provide for a holding area that can accommodate 100 trucks and vehicles to prevent road congestion and sustain growth in cargo and logistics industry here.

Aliño also identified a socialized housing program under President Marcos’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program to be built in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, as well as dormitory buildings for Freeport workers, as among the infrastructure initiatives of the Subic agency.

He said the housing project will be located at Subic’s central business district, while the4 dormitories will be constructed in areas close to industrial centers and techno parks.

Both projects will provide access to decent and safe housing units that are conveniently located near major employment hubs, thus saving expenses for both companies and workers and reducing the number of vehciles and commuters on the road, Aliño said.

Meanwhile, the Subic Bay Smart City project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 at a cost of P224 million. This will involve the installation of additional closed-circuit television surveillance and traffic cameras around the Subic Freeport.

The Subic agency also plans to build the SBMA Center for Excellence that will boost the skills of the Freeport workers and ensure sustainability of industries here.

Aliño said the P21-million training facility is designed to enhance the competitiveness of the 154,000-strong workforce through technical education and skills development offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

In his presentation, Aliño also mentioned a P4.3-billion hotel project that is envisioned to generate more arrivals at the Subic airport and further develop the local tourism industry. Funding for this project will be sourced from the national government, he said.

Last May, Aliño also announced plans for port expansion projects worth a total of P39.36 billion to make Subic the go-to port for traders and export-import businesses in Central and Northern Luzon. (30)

PHOTO: SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño presents the agency’s infrastructure development program during the “Build Better More” Infrastructure Forum at the New Clark City. (SBMA photo)