Subic Bay Freeport, Philippines – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has temporarily taken measures to provide port clients with the much-needed financial support, amid the ongoing rise in fuel costs in the global market.
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño explained that this is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order No. 110, which immediately placed the entire country in a state of national energy emergency due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Aliño added that such temporary measures aim to provide aid to industries affected by the Middle East crisis by ensuring that cost-stabilizing strategies for the transport and food sectors are implemented without delay.
“These initiatives, including reduced fees and extended free storage, provide a fiscal cushion to reinforce investor confidence and prevent supply chain bottlenecks,” said Aliño.
He also cited that key industry participants namely, importers, suppliers, consignees, vessel owners, and consumers, will experience the impact of these measures through their respective counterparts – terminal operators, cargo handlers, brokers, consolidators, processors, ship agents, and shipping lines, resulting in a cascading effect throughout the supply chain.
As part of this initiative, the SBMA will implement a five percent tariff reduction on all commercial vessels, including harbor fees, berthing fees/ anchorage fees, and harbor cleaning fees, as well as a five percent tariff reduction on cargo charges including wharfage fees, and storage fees.
“We will also implement a five percent tariff reduction on SBMA shares such as pilotage fee, hauling services, tugboat services, heavy equipment rental, line handling services, chandling services, water tendering, cargo handling for containerized cargo, and bunkering services,” he added.
Additionally, the SBMA is also offering free storage for non-containerized cargo, and free storage period for an additional 2-day extension.
To further aid port clients, the SBMA will temporarily suspend the collection of shares from terminal operators/cargo handlers for liquid bulk cargo handling and related activities; the implementation of the one percent admission fee for liquid bulk; and the implementation of the ten percent increase on cargo handling and miscellaneous charges of non-containerized/ general cargoes.
Chairman Aliño assured port stakeholders that these measures shall take effect immediately upon its approval and ratification by the SBMA Board of Directors, adding that these will remain in force until geopolitical tensions subside, at which point they shall be lifted via a formal issuance following Board approval.
SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie Yambao said that the 2026 revenue projections will generate ₱76 million in fiscal relief over a one-year period.
Yambao added that the direct tariff reductions will specifically account for approximately ₱49 million (a computation arriving at this figure is attached to this Memorandum, for your reference), while the suspension of new policies is expected to save stakeholders and domestic consumers an additional ₱25 million annually.
Furthermore, the extension of free storage periods will contribute approximately ₱2 million in operational savings for port stakeholders for a year.
