Subic
Freeport and special economic zone
Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone
Subic Bay Yacht Club
Location of Subic in Bataan and Zambales
OpenStreetMap
Subic Location within the Philippines Show map of Philippines Subic Subic (Luzon) Show map of Luzon
Coordinates: 14°48′25″N 120°17′13″E / 14.807°N 120.287°E / 14.807; 120.287
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon
Provinces	Bataan and Zambales
City and municipalities	Bataan Hermosa Morong Zambales Olongapo Subic
Founded	November 24, 1992
Government
• Chairperson and administrator	Eduardo Aliño
ZIP code	2222
IDD : area code	+63 47
Catholic diocese	Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga (Hermosa and Morong, Bataan) Roman Catholic Diocese of Iba (Olongapo and Subic, Zambales)
Website	mysubicbay.com.ph

The Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone, often shortened as Subic Bay or Subic, is a special economic zone and freeport area covering portions of the city of Olongapo and the town of Subic in Zambales, and the towns of Hermosa and Morong in Bataan in the Philippines.^[3][4] The relatively developed and fenced area is called the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ).

The economic zone was the location of U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, until the latter's decommissioning in 1992. The SBFZ is operated and managed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), a sub-agency under the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). The harbor faces the Zambales Mountains to the west and Subic Bay opens to the South China Sea.

History

Subic Bay is surrounded by the towns of Hermosa, Morong, and Subic, and the city of Olongapo in the provinces of Bataan and Zambales, respectively. Development of Olongapo was largely tied to the presence of the United States Navy base, once the largest U.S. military naval base in Asia. An arsenal and ship-repair facility was established at Subic Bay in 1885 by the then colonial power, Spain. Following the Spanish–American War, Subic Bay became a U.S. Navy and Marine base, and grew to be a major facility. Until 1991, it was the base of the United States 7th Fleet. A red-light district developed around the base, drawn by the presence of American personnel.^[5]

In early 1991, after the collapse of protracted negotiations, the Philippine Senate rejected terms for renewal of the base's lease. The U.S. Navy was already in the process of downsizing its Subic operations in June 1991, when Mount Pinatubo erupted. One of the largest volcanic eruptions in the last 100 years, it covered the Navy Base in volcanic ash and collapsed a significant number of structures. The last ship, USS Belleau Wood, left on November 24, 1992.

Post–Cold War

Subic Bay was converted into a commercial zone largely through the efforts of some 8,000 residents of nearby Olongapo, under the leadership of mayor Richard Gordon, who wanted to protect and preserve the $8 billion worth of facilities and property from looting and destruction. Subic was transformed and became a model for bases conversion into commercial use after the Cold War with blue chip companies like Coastal Petroleum and Fed Ex pumping in over $3 billion of investments, creating 70,000 jobs in the free port's first four years.^[6] It was host to the 4th APEC Leaders' Summit on November 24, 1996^[7] and FedEx's Asia-Pacific hub, Asia-One, was located in Subic Bay for almost ten years.^[8][9]

In 2013, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said that the Philippines intended to move military forces to the base in response to the territorial disputes in the South China Sea.^[10] The United States Navy sought access on a rotational basis for ships and Marines,^[11] and conducts maritime patrol aircraft patrols from bases in the Philippines.^[12]

Geography

While the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone (as well as the agency responsible for the freeport zone's operations and management Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)) shares a name with a nearby town, it covers portions of Olongapo and the town of Subic in Zambales, and Hermosa and Morong in Bataan. It covers a total area of 67,452 hectares (166,680 acres), but the 14,000 hectares (35,000 acres) area that is secured and fenced hosts much of the development. This area is referred to as the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and out of this area 2,800 hectares (6,900 acres) is suitable for development, with the remaining portions consisting of high slopes, forests, or protected areas. In 2017, negotiations with local government units next to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone expanded the fenced area.^[4]

The special economic zone is adjacent to Subic Bay. At least six mangrove areas are found in the Freeport Zone.^[13]

Districts

The Subic Freeport Zone is divided into districts. The freeport zone has a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) Land, which is the ancestral domain of the Aeta people.^[14][15]

• Binictican Heights
• Central Business District (CBD)
• Cubi-Triboa
• Ilanin Forest East
• Ilanin Forest West
• Kalayaan Heights
• Port District
• Redondo Peninsula
• Subic Bay Forest District (consisting of the non-adjacent areas of Tipo and Minanga areas)
• Subic Gateway

Demographics

Subic Freeport's population of at least 6,000 people is concentrated in the Kalayaan and Binictican areas.^[16] Portions of the Subic Freeport area form part of a formally recognized ancestral domain of the Aetas, an indigenous ethnic group living in the area prior to its usage as a US military base. A significant Aeta settlement in Subic is Pastolan.^[17]

Economy

In mid-2019, some 135,000 workers were employed in Subic Bay Freeport, 68% in the service industry and 17% in the manufacturing industry. Subic was a shipbuilding hub. The now-defunct Hanjin Philippines was the single biggest employer in the area prior to its bankruptcy in January 2019. As of mid-2019, 5,901 workers were employed in the shipbuilding and maritime industry by 96 firms.^{[needs update][18]} Subic is served by the Port of Subic.

Tourism

Subic Bay is a popular destination for weekend visitors from Metro Manila. Attractions include beaches, an underwater aquarium, jungle survival tours, and duty-free shopping.

Destinations include eco-tourism theme parks, the Ocean Adventure,^[19] Zoobic Safari,^[20] and the Pamulaklakin Nature Park,^[21] which is home to the indigenous Aetas who once trained the U.S. Navy in jungle survival tactics.^[22]

Subic International Raceway (SIR), the Philippines' first purpose-built motorsports venue, opened in 1994 near Subic Bay International Airport. It was established by racing champion Pocholo Ramirez and his family. SIR hosted international racing events, such as the Asian Festival of Speed, Asian Formula 2000 and the Asian Formula Three Championship.^[23] Local races, such as the Philippine Touring Car Championship, Run What You Brung (RWYB) and Circuit Showdown were held there. The racetrack closed in 2010 after its lease ended.^[24]

The economic zone hosts the Subic Bay Yacht Club. The bay is favored for sailing sports, especially during the Habagat season. Subic Bay hosted the sailing events for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.^[25]

Subic Sun Convention Resort and Casino

On March 14, 2024, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chair, Eduardo L. Aliño and Subic Sun Convention Resort and Casino Inc. President, Pablo Edgardo Puyat led the groundbreaking ceremony at Subic International Hotel for the $300-million convention center, resort and casino to be built upon a 6-hectare property. "In a couple of years, the Ibis Styles and Mercure Hotels, which is affiliated with the Accor International Group, the project developer, will be operating a world class integrated leisure and convention center in Subic Bay, which will be the very first integrated resort casino and hotel complex in the freeport," Aliño said.^[26]

Transport

The Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone is served by the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway. Subic is the site of Subic Bay International Airport which can be used for chartered flights. The airport was a former Asian hub of multinational logistics company FedEx. The Port serves direct passenger traffic through ferries going to and from Orion, Bataan.^[27] The freeport zone is accessible via its gate in Morong.

Industrial parks

Most of the businesses inside the Freeport Zone are manufacturing, construction, and warehousing. Operations are subdivided into industrial parks, namely:

• Subic Bay Gateway Park (formerly Subic Bay Industrial Park)
• Subic Techno Park
• Global Industrial Park (SRF Compound)
• Boton Lights and Sciences Park^{[citation needed]}