Officials of the BCDA, SBMA, BOI, PEZA, and SCAD during the discussion on “The PAX Silica Blueprint: Powering the Luzon Economic Corridor” at SUBEX 2026 on October 19.
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Subic Bay is positioning its port and industrial facilities to capture new investments in advanced manufacturing, energy and logistics as the PAX Silica initiative and Luzon Economic Corridor drive efforts to strengthen Central Luzon’s industrial supply chain.
The investment opportunities were discussed during “The PAX Silica Blueprint: Powering the Luzon Economic Corridor” at the Subic Bay Exhibition (SUBEX) 2026 on October 19 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Senior Deputy Administrator for Operations and Logistics Ronnie Yambao said the Freeport’s 15 piers, container terminal and multimodal logistics facilities could serve as a maritime gateway for equipment, materials and project cargoes needed by industries across the corridor.
A memorandum of understanding signed on June 25 by SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Joshua Bingcang provides a framework for identifying logistics requirements and exploring partnerships for the PAX Silica initiative.
The agreement also seeks to connect Subic-based locators with companies in Clark and other parts of the corridor, opening opportunities for local businesses to provide warehousing, cargo handling and related logistics services.
Yambao cited Subic’s handling of battery shipments for the 3,500-megawatt Terra Solar project as an example of its capacity to accommodate specialized cargo. He also highlighted the Freeport’s role in energy security through fuel storage facilities and in food security through fertilizer-handling operations.
Beyond port capacity, the corridor’s investment potential will depend on reliable infrastructure and utilities, said Engineer Mark P. Torres, officer-in-charge of the BCDA Office of the Vice President for Conversion and Development.
Torres said BCDA is pursuing infrastructure and connectivity projects to attract investments and support industrial clustering. The agency is also diversifying energy sources through waste-to-energy, solar power with battery storage and natural gas generation, while advancing solutions to meet industrial and community water requirements.
Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Deputy Director General for Operations Vivian Santos said the agency’s network of economic zones provides a platform for export-oriented manufacturing and supporting services.
PEZA oversees 441 economic zones with more than 4,400 locator enterprises engaged in industries such as semiconductors, information technology and business process management, automotive, agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, medical services and tourism.
Santos also cited PEZA’s digitalization efforts, including automated import-export transactions and goods movement, to reduce processing time and improve operational efficiency.
Meanwhile, Board of Investments (BOI) Acting Director for Investment Promotions Services Jean Elizabeth D. Traballo said the agency helps investors identify suitable locations, access incentives under the Strategic Investment Priority Plan and connect with workforce development programs.
She emphasized the need for coordinated investment promotion and skills development to help Filipino workers and domestic enterprises participate in business opportunities generated by the corridor.
The discussions highlighted the importance of integrating ports, economic zones, utilities and investment services to attract industries and strengthen Central Luzon’s competitiveness.
For Subic, closer links with Clark and other industrial centers could generate additional demand for port services and create new business opportunities for Freeport locators as investments in advanced industries expand.