By Henry Empeño | September 8, 2026

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Bag producer Philippines Jinboway Technology Ltd. Corp. (Jinboway) is breaking new ground here with the construction of four “smart” factories under a $5-million expansion program.

Jinboway, which started out as a small cut-and-sew bag manufacturer here in 2019, will soon focus on manufacturing sports and athletic goods, as well as electronic equipment under the expansion project, said company CEO Vicky Wei.

Wei led the project groundbreaking ceremony on September 3 with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Jose Eduardo Aliño, and SBMA Directors Joseph Khonghun and Ruel John Kabigting.

The four state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities will occupy a 4.5-hectare property at the Subic Bay Gateway Park, an industrial and business district jointly managed by the SBMA and the United Development Corp. (UDC) of Taiwan.

The factories are expected to be completed within three years and will generate an additional 1,000 jobs upon completion.

The project is considered a major breakthrough for Jinboway, which initially occupied a 5,580-sqm shop but subsequently subleased a 28,234-sqm facility over seven years of operation.

“From starting in a rented space just a few years ago, we have expanded to a large factory employing 3,000 workers,” Wei recounted during the groundbreaking.

“This development signals that Subic Freeport is an ideal location for Jinbo, and Jinbo is a valued contributor to the Subic Economic Zone,” she added.

Since locating in Subic, Jinboway aspired to be the leading bag manufacturer in the Philippines, and soon firmly established itself as a major manufacturer of high-end outdoor products, including cut-and-sew soft backpacks and gear bags under the Yeti brand.

Under its expansion plan, it will also produce outdoor and waterproof bags, textile and garment products, hardware assembly, and electronic devices such as car chargers, smartphone wall chargers, massage chairs, and foot massagers.

Aliño, meanwhile acknowledged the firm’s remarkable growth, saying it was “a reaffirmation that Subic Bay Freeport remains a top destination for serious investors committed to the future.”

“Jinboway began modestly in 2019 with a 5,580-square meter facility, built on the simple decision to trust this Freeport with real capital and real commitment. That trust has since grown into something far larger: an operation that today employs thousands of Filipino workers, and an expansion now backed by a five-million-dollar investment across four new buildings,” Aliño said. ▲