By HENRY EMPEÑO | February 28, 2026

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Topnotch real estate broker Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc. (LPC) is exploring collaborative projects with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to accelerate tourism growth and investment promotion in the Subic Bay Freeport.

In a meeting here on Wednesday, February 25, LPC CEO David Leechiu and SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Renato Lee discussed with their respective staff further development of high-impact tourism segments that could significantly jack up tourism traffic here.

These include cruise ship tourism, wreck diving, forest trails, and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) activities.

Leechiu was accompanied in the meeting by Henry Cabrera and Tam Angel, both investment directors for LPC. The company, founded in 2015 by Leechiu, provides rental, assets, facility, and property management, as well as funds, brokerage, and other real estate services.

They were briefed on ongoing tourism projects here by Lee and officers from the SBMA Business Group, including SBMA Tourism Department manager Jem Camba.

Lee said the two groups agreed that the development of eco-tourism experiences is necessary to prime Subic for sustainable tourism, nature-based recreation, and eco-adventure activities.

Both parties also underscored the need to enhance Subic’s MICE capabilities through investments in convention facilities, hotels, and integrated developments to capture corporate and international events.

Leechiu, who is considered the Philippines’ leading real estate adviser, noted that increased cruise calls in Subic would drive growth across hospitality, retail, transport, and local enterprises.

The property wunderkind also expressed strong confidence in Subic’s growth trajectory, noting “tremendous investment potential” particularly in tourism, hospitality, and mixed-use developments.

“With its strategic location, infrastructure, and commitment to sustainability, Subic stands out as a compelling destination for both local and international investors,” Leechiu said.

Lee pointed out, meanwhile, that the SBMA is leveraging Subic’s deep-water port and strategic location to position the Freeport as a competitive cruise ship destination in Luzon.

“Subic is uniquely positioned to lead in sustainable tourism and logistics,” explained Lee. “Our goal is to fully maximize our natural assets—from our harbor and shipwreck sites to our forests—while ensuring that development aligns with our vision of becoming a green port city and a key economic engine in the Luzon Economic Corridor.”

He said that wreck diving is a strong niche market, with Subic Bay’s historic shipwrecks continuing to attract both domestic and international divers.

Lee further stressed that SBMA’s long-term business strategy calls for sustainable port operations, eco-friendly infrastructure, and responsible development under SBMA Chairman Eduardo Jose Aliño’s vision of Subic as a green port city and a major driver within the Luzon Economic Corridor.

As of end of December 2025, Subic has a total of 1,195 business locators with a cumulative investment of US$10.58 billion and employing a total of 171,653 workers, Lee told BusinessMirror.

Of these Subic-registered investors, 931 are engaged in tourism and leisure-related businesses, he added. 