Solon bats for Subic option in easing Manila port congestion

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – Sen. Bongbong Marcos has strongly proposed to increase the utilization of the Subic Bay Freeport to resolve the worsening congestion at Manila Port.

During the general membership assembly of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce Thursday, Marcos said the National Economic Economic Development Authority (NEDA) approved last year the “Dream Plan” for Metro Manila and surrounding areas which was formulated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The Dream Plan advocates a transport-oriented development strategy for Metro Manila and Greater Capital Region that represents Regions IV-A and III, with the Subic Freeport envisioned to play a major starring role.

It aims to resolve the problems of massive road traffic congestion and port congestion.

“The Dream Plan strongly recommends the increased utilization of the Subic Bay Freeport as a primary long term solution,” Marcos said.

“In my view, there is indeed both sound logistical and business sense in the preffered solution of drumming up business growth in the Subic Port,” he said.

Marcos also noted the big disparity in utilizing Philippine major ports, Manila ports 79 percent were Batangas and Subic are being utilized only at dismal rate of 7.8 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively.

This despite the fact that both ports have existing and adequate infrastructures and facilities, and supported by nearby airports- Clark International Airport, and new and high quality road networks that link up Subic to Northern Luzon, to Metro Manila and Southern Luzon, namely SCTEX and TPLEX.

“We can just imagine what Subic can still achieve, what heights it can still reach. Subic Bay Freeport is getting more and more efficient and competitive each passing year,” Marcos said.

Marcos said that with mutual trust and best intentions, SBFCC can reach out to government, both local and national, in encouraging and maintaining a healthy business environment, and conducive market conditions.

For his part, SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia said the combined investment on expansion projects increased from P198 million in 2014 to P267 million this year or an increase of 35 percent, while in Maritime, the container arrival in Subic rose from 37,177 TEUa to 83,258 TEUs or an increase of 124 percent, while cargo arrival went up by two percent.