By Henry Empeño | February 10, 2025

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Port of Subic is pushing for a cooperation agreement with the Port of San Diego, the fourth largest in the West Coast, to further advance maritime development under a program for Subic Bay to become a port city.

This developed following a visit here on Thursday, Feb. 6, by San Diego port Commissioner Gil Anthony Ungab and port Director Joel Valenzuela.

In the meeting, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño proposed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two ports to identify and explore areas of cooperation, particularly in artificial intelligence, automation, break cargo handling and management, shore power connection, cruise ship terminal and market development, and ship repair.

“We are proposing an MOU between our two ports with the vision to develop concrete projects that are mutually beneficial to our ports,” Aliño said.

“In line with the SBMA’s new vision to be a green port city, the proposed partnership with the Port of San Diego is a vital step in advancing Subic’s interests in maritime project development,” he added.

The two San Diego port officials, meanwhile, expressed excitement over the proposal and invited Aliño to visit San Diego to see for himself various port-related initiatives, as well as to formally seal the proposed agreement.

Ungab, who is the first Filipino-American to be appointed to the San Diego port authority, said they see the potential in developing trade and commerce between Subic and San Diego.

Valenzuela, who is director for Maritime Business Line, meanwhile pointed out similarities between the two ports and cited the need to strengthen and continue to develop partnership in the maritime industry.

Valenzuela’s office is responsible for the port’s business development, planning, operations and infrastructure development for cargo and cruise businesses, waterfront industrial leaseholds, shipyards and shipbuilding facilities, and public piers and docks.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator Ronnie Yambao, who welcomed the visitors with Aliño, said the MOU would be “a positive step in expanding the global reach and trade network of the Port of Subic in the United States.”

He said the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics has ranked the Port of San Diego as one of America’s top 30 containership ports, bringing in nearly 3 million metric tons of cargo per year through the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and the National City Marine Terminal.

Yambao added that in 2015 the SBMA likewise signed an MOU with the Virginia Port Authority to develop trade and exchange best practices in break-bulk and cruise ship logistics management and operations. 