The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has allotted $48.2 million for the rehabilitation of the Subic Bay Freeport’s piers and wharves, the Philippine News Agency informs.
Newly-appointed SBMA Chairperson and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said that the move is part of an effort to fully improve the so-called heart and soul of this premier maritime logistics center.
“The piers and wharves are undeniably the biggest assets of Subic Bay, and our sea port generates the biggest income among all the SBMA units,” Eisma said.
“We need to put these assets in top condition so that we can service more vessels and also get top returns for our investments,” she added.
The Subic Bay Freeport has a total of 15 piers and wharves that can serve various purposes from transshipment of containerized and break-bulk cargoes, fuels and lubricants, grains and fertilizer, as well as servicing vessels and passengers.
Eisma particularly cited the Alava Pier, which services military and passenger vessels in Subic, that needs to be dredged and its piles strengthened in order to accommodate bigger cruise ships.
“We have concluded talks with some cruise liners and the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. , which will dock in Subic starting next May, but we cannot bring in those with passenger capacity of up to 5,000 because our piers are not yet upgraded, ” Eisma concluded.
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