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Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has embarked on various projects to turn Subic Bay Freeport Zone into the country’s first carbon-neutral economic zone
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These projects include the shore power connection facility for ships calling Subic port, launch of pure battery electric buses, and a proposed liquified natural gas facility at Redondo Peninsula
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SBMA also envisions Subic as a ‘Green Port City’ and eyes the port as a transshipment hub for electric vehicles and solar panels
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has embarked on various projects to turn Subic Bay Freeport Zone into the country’s first carbon-neutral economic zone.
These projects include the shore power connection facility for ships calling Subic port, launch of pure battery electric buses (e-bus), and a proposed liquified natural gas (LNG) facility at Redondo Peninsula.
SBMA also envisions Subic as a “Green Port City” and the port as a transshipment hub for electric vehicles (EVs) and solar panels.
“We aim to become the first carbon-neutral economic zone in the Philippines, consider it a game changer for the country’s climate action and carbon reduction target,” SBMA senior deputy administrator for operations Ronnie Yambao said in a presentation at the recent 3rd Central Luzon Transport & Trade Conference 2025 organized by PortCalls and Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association, Inc.
The first phase of the shore power connection project—a first in the country—will cover Subic port’s new container terminals set to commence in 2026 with a budget of P100 million. Phase 2 covering the Naval Supply Depot and Ship Repair Facility is eyed for 2027 to 2028.
Yambao said ships calling Subic port need not turn their engine while in idle position and can instead use the shore power connection facility while at berth, potentially reducing carbon emissions by 95%.
SBMA is also set to launch its pure battery e-buses, with 10 units already delivered last May.
The project entails construction of fast electric vehicle charging stations at the motorpool area of the SBMA Maintenance and Transportation Department, while another charging station donated by the Department of Energy will be installed along Argonaut Highway.
SBMA has allotted a budget of P10 million for the construction of new bus stops, as well as the rehabilitation of existing ones, for completion by December 2025. A total of 58 bus stops will be constructed, eight around the central business district, 16 at the Cubi Area, six at theme park areas, 18 at the Binictican Housing area, and 10 at the Kalayaan Housing area.
The e-buses were acquired through Golden Asia Automotive Builders, Inc., and were manufactured by China-based Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co. Ltd.
Yambao said SBMA is also looking into “the possibility of developing [an] LNG facility in the Redondo Peninsula” as part of the authority’s share to help augment the shortage of energy resources in the country.
In addition, SBMA is eyeing Subic port as a transshipment hub for EVs and solar panels. Yambao noted that they have been handling such shipments and is expecting more volumes to come.
Other projects to expand the ports’ capacities and create more space for future locators are in the pipeline.
SBMA earlier announced a number of port expansion projects with a total approximate budget of $878.7 million, including a new container terminal with a capacity of 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, estimated to cost $359 million; a multipurpose terminal at Redondo Peninsula, valued at $162 million; a multipurpose terminal in Lower Mau, supporting bulk and break- bulk industries, costing $182 million; and a dedicated cruise terminal to boost tourism, with an investment of P10.2 billion.
The construction of a bridge linking Subic Bay Freeport to Redondo Peninsula is planned, in line with plans to create a new industrial estate at Redondo, Yambao said.
The 200-hectare Redondo Peninsula Industrial Estate will have an estimated project cost of P18.2 billion and will accommodate various industries such as manufacturing, renewable energy, and those related to ports and logistics.
The first phase will be the development of a 50-hectare manufacturing area for wind parts manufacturing, steel, logistics, and other related industries, as well as a multi-purpose port. The second phase is an 80-hectare renewable energy area while the third phase is a 70-hectare mixed-use area.
With Subic “fast becoming a cruise ship playground in Southeast Asia,” SBMA is also looking into the construction of a dedicated cruise terminal, to be undertaken in two phases. The first phase estimated to cost P1.2 billion involves construction of a cruise ship jetty with the first berth measuring 380 meters in length and the second 350 meters with a depth of 12 meters. The second phase includes the reclamation for the cruise passenger terminal and cruise leisure and commercial area that will have an estimated cost of P9 billion.
Relatedly, Costa Serena, a vessel from cruise brand Costa Cruises, will be making its return to the Philippines in September with Subic as its turnaround port, following the successful inspection on April 23, 2025.
As a turnaround port, passengers will have their embarkation in the Freeport to begin the cruise ship’s six-day journey to Taiwan and Japan, and disembarking in Manila. – Roumina Pablo
