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The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority is implementing assistance measures to industries affected by the Middle East conflict
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SBMA is implementing a 5% reduction on commercial vessels, 5% reduction on wharfage and storage fees, 5% reduction on SBMA share on various services, a two-day extension of free storage period, and suspending several regulatory fees
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Based on 2026 revenue projections, SBMA said they estimate that these measures will provide a total of P76 million in fiscal relief over a one-year period
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The measures took effect on April 8 and will remain in force until geopolitical tensions subside
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is implementing assistance measures, including a 5% reduction on fees and extended free storage period, to industries affected by the Middle East conflict.
SBMA chairman and administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño said the initiative aims to ensure that cost-stabilizing measures for the transport and food sectors are implemented without delay, and to provide a fiscal cushion to reinforce investor confidence and prevent supply chain bottlenecks.
SBMA said its measures took effect immediately upon approval of the SBMA Board on April 8 and will remain in force until geopolitical tensions subside.
The measures include a 5% tariff reduction on charges on commercial vessels, including harbor fee, berthing/anchorage fee, and harbor cleaning fee.
The reduced fee is available to vessel owners through their designated ship agent or shipping companies. Ship agents and shipping lines are expected to include the subject reduction in their final pricing to their customers.
For cargoes, SBMA is also implementing a 5% reduction on wharfage fee and storage fee.
For Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC) New Container Terminals, and in joint venture areas, the storage fee will be classified and included as either a fixed or variable fee, whichever is applicable.
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Terminal operators, brokers, consolidators, and processors must extend the subject reduction to their port clients or to the consignees/cargo owners through a direct quotation and actual billing.
SBMA is also reducing by 5% its shares on pilotage fee, tugboat services, line handling services, water tendering, bunkering services, hauling service, heavy equipment rental, chandling services, and cargo-handling (stevedoring/arrastre) for containerized cargo.
SBMA senior deputy administrator for operations Ronnie Yambao said SBMA is also extending by two days the free storage period as follows:
- Import – 12 days from 10 days
- Export – nine days from seven days
- Transshipment – 12 days from 10 days
- Domestic – four days from two days
Should the cargoes remain beyond the free storage period, the computation of storage charges will retroact from the first day of storage until their actual and final discharge.
Moreover, Yambao said SBMA is suspending the implementation of several regulatory fees, including the SBMA share from terminal operators/cargo-handlers for liquid bulk cargo handling and related activities; 1% admission fee for liquid bulk; and the 10% increase on cargo handling and miscellaneous charges of non-containerized/general cargoes.
In view of the suspension of the 10% increase on cargo handling and miscellaneous charges of non-containized/general cargoes, the tariff rates are reverted to previous rates prior to the increase that took effect on January 31, 2026. The SBMA share will, however, remain at 15%.
Based on 2026 revenue projections, SBMA said they estimate that these measures will provide a total of P76 million in fiscal relief over a one-year period.
Specifically, the direct tariff reductions will account for approximately P49 million, while the suspension of new policies is expected to save stakeholders and domestic consumers an additional P25 million annually.
Furthermore, SBMA has identified that the extension of free storage periods will contribute approximately P2 million in operational savings for port stakeholders for a year.
These measures are also in support of Executive Order (AO) No. 110, which declared a state of national energy emergency in the country due to uncertainties in the global energy.
Aliño said it supports EO 110 by easing the financial burden on locators and stakeholders of Subic Bay Freeport Zone and “serves as a strategic effort to ultimately protect domestic consumers nationwide.”
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