Subic Bay Freeport — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has rolled out temporary relief measures, including reduced fees and added support, to assist port clients affected by rising global fuel costs.
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said the initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 110, which placed the country under a state of national energy emergency due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Aliño explained that the measures are designed to cushion industries from the economic impact of the crisis by ensuring the swift implementation of cost-stabilizing strategies, particularly for the transport and food sectors.
“These initiatives, including reduced fees and extended free storage, provide a fiscal cushion to reinforce investor confidence and prevent supply chain bottlenecks,” he said.
He added that the benefits will ripple across the supply chain, affecting key stakeholders such as importers, suppliers, consignees, vessel owners, and consumers through their counterparts, including terminal operators, cargo handlers, brokers, consolidators, processors, ship agents, and shipping lines.
Under the program, SBMA will implement a five percent reduction in tariffs on all commercial vessels, covering harbor, berthing or anchorage, and harbor cleaning fees. A similar five percent reduction will also apply to cargo-related charges, including wharfage and storage fees.
In addition, SBMA will cut its share in various service fees by five percent, including pilotage, hauling, tugboat operations, heavy equipment rental, line handling, chandling, water tendering, containerized cargo handling, and bunkering services.
The agency will also grant free storage for non-containerized cargo and extend the free storage period by an additional two days.
To further ease costs, SBMA will temporarily suspend the collection of its share from terminal operators and cargo handlers for liquid bulk cargo handling and related services. It will also defer the implementation of the one percent admission fee for liquid bulk and the planned ten percent increase in cargo handling and miscellaneous charges for non-containerized or general cargo.
Aliño assured stakeholders that the measures will take effect immediately upon approval by the SBMA Board of Directors and will remain in place until geopolitical tensions ease. The relief program will be lifted through a formal issuance once conditions stabilize.
SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie Yambao said the initiative is expected to provide approximately ₱76 million in fiscal relief over one year.
Of this amount, around ₱49 million will come from direct tariff reductions, while the suspension of new policies is projected to save stakeholders and consumers an additional ₱25 million annually. The extension of free storage periods is expected to generate about ₱2 million in operational savings.