Tuesday, February 03, 2009 [ manilatimes.net ]
SUBIC BAY Freeport: The National Competitiveness Council and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) called for the development of Subic as the country’s transshipment and logistic hub over the weekend.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) officials lauded the proposal saying that it reinforces its commitment to modernize the Subic seaport that has posted a 26.6 growth last year despite the current situation.
“More and more people realize Subic’s potential in catalyzing further growth in the country’s maritime logistics industry, and that’s great news for the SBMA,” SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said.
“The picture of a modern, globally competitive and commercially viable Subic seaport gets clearer,” he added.
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has already allocated $215 million to modernize Subic Bay en route to becoming the country’s logistics and marine services hub, Arreza said.
This modernization program of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone includes construction of two container terminals which would have a total capacity of 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs); and rehabilitation of some US Navy-built piers, which would be used as specialized ports for passenger and cruise ships, and also for loading and unloading grains, fertilizers, oil and petroleum products, and other bulk cargoes.
Meneleo Carlos of the National Competitiveness Council said the council is studying the possibility of moving more cargo through the Subic Bay Freeport using 50-TEU to 80-TEU barges for the transfer of cargoes from Bataan, Batangas, Cavite and Manila.
Since Subic Bay is in close proximity to most of the major sea lanes, it would be more convenient for mother ships which are used in transshipments to drop by Subic and pick up cargoes there for direct delivery to their respective destinations, he said, adding that this would fast track the movement of shipments, entail lower costs, and generate additional profit and employment.
In a statement by SBMA, PCCI officials said that proposed logistics center is needed to decongest cargo traffic in Manila, reduce the cost of doing business and improve the competitiveness of the Philippines as business estination.--Anthony Bayarong and Ben Arnold O. de Vera
