SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has implemented temporary relief measures to provide port stakeholders with financial support amid the continued rise in fuel costs.
This is in line with Executive Order No. 110 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which declared a State of National Energy Emergency in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its impact on global energy supply.
SBMA Chairperson and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño said the temporary measures aim to assist 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,” the official pressed.
He added that key industry participants such as importers, suppliers, consignees, vessel owners, and consumers will experience the impact of these measures through their counterparts, including terminal operators, cargo handlers, brokers, consolidators, processors, ship agents, and shipping lines, resulting in a cascading effect throughout the supply chain.
As part of the initiative, SBMA is implementing a five percent tariff reduction on all commercial vessels, covering harbor fees, berthing or anchorage fees, and harbor cleaning fees.
A five percent tariff reduction is also applied to cargo-related charges, including wharfage 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,” Aliño added.
In addition, SBMA is offering free storage for non-containerized cargo and extending the free storage period by an additional two days.
The agency will also temporarily suspend the collection of shares from terminal operators and 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 10% increase on cargo handling and miscellaneous charges of non-containerized or general cargo.
Aliño said these will take effect immediately upon approval and ratification by the SBMA Board of Directors and will remain in force until geopolitical tensions subside, after which they will be lifted through a formal issuance following Board approval.
Meanwhile, SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie Yambao disclosed that the measures are projected to generate P76 million in fiscal relief over a one-year period.
Yambao furthered that direct tariff reductions will account for approximately P49 million, while the suspension of new policies is expected to save stakeholders and domestic consumers an additional P25 million annually.
The extension of the free storage periods will contribute around P2 million in operational savings for port stakeholders over one year.