SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Government economic agencies are positioning Subic Bay’s maritime facilities, Clark’s infrastructure and the country’s network of economic zones to support investments in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, energy and logistics under the proposed PAX Silica initiative and the Luzon Economic Corridor.
The strategy was discussed during the Subic Bay Exhibition (SUBEX) 2026 on October 19 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center, where officials from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Subic Clark Alliance for Development and Board of Investments (BOI) outlined their respective roles in building an integrated investment and logistics network.
SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations and Logistics Ronnie Yambao said Subic Bay’s port facilities could serve as a maritime gateway for supplies and project cargoes required by industries participating in the initiative.
He cited the Subic Bay Freeport’s 15 piers, container terminal and multimodal logistics capabilities as strategic assets that could support the movement of industrial equipment, materials and other shipments for projects across the economic corridor.
Under a memorandum of understanding signed by SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño and BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcang on June 25, the parties established a framework for exploring logistics requirements and potential partnerships for the PAX Silica initiative.
The agreement also provides opportunities for Subic-based locators to supply warehousing, cargo-handling and other services to companies operating in Clark and other areas covered by the corridor.
Yambao cited the port’s existing role in handling battery shipments for the 3,500-megawatt Terra Solar project as an example of its capacity to accommodate specialized project cargoes. He also underscored Subic’s contribution to national energy security through fuel storage facilities and to food security through fertilizer-handling operations.
For the BCDA, infrastructure development and reliable utilities are central to unlocking the corridor’s economic potential.
Engineer Mark P. Torres, officer-in-charge of the BCDA Office of the Vice President for Conversion and Development, said the agency is pursuing infrastructure and connectivity projects to strengthen industrial clustering, attract investments and support manufacturing.
He also cited efforts to diversify energy sources through waste-to-energy, solar power with battery storage and natural gas generation. Water security projects are likewise being pursued to meet the requirements of industrial locators and residents without compromising surrounding communities.
PEZA Deputy Director General for Operations Vivian Santos highlighted the role of economic zones and their supporting enterprises in sustaining export-oriented manufacturing.
She said the agency oversees 441 economic zones hosting more than 4,400 locator enterprises across industries including semiconductors, information technology and business process management, automotive, agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, medical services and tourism.
Santos also pointed to PEZA’s digitalization initiatives, including automated import-export processes and the movement of goods, as measures to improve transaction efficiency and facilitate business operations.
Meanwhile, BOI Acting Director for Investment Promotions Services Jean Elizabeth D. Traballo said the agency helps connect investors with suitable locations, incentives and workforce development opportunities under the Strategic Investment Priority Plan.
She stressed the importance of coordinated government investment promotion to ensure that Filipino workers and local enterprises can participate in business opportunities generated by the corridor.
The discussions underscored the need to align infrastructure, logistics, investment incentives, energy and workforce development to make the Luzon Economic Corridor competitive for emerging industries.
For Subic Bay, the initiative presents an opportunity to expand its role beyond port operations by linking its logistics capabilities and industrial locators with a wider network of manufacturing and technology investments across Central Luzon.