CLARK FREEPORT -- Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Senior Marketing Executive for Seaport and Airport Ronnie Yambao said Subic Bay is prepared to become a cruise ship destination.
"Subic is ready," said Yambao, who was sent in the Pampanga Press Club (PPC) forum as representative of SBMA Administration Wilma Eisma last Monday, April 17.
Yambao said Subic Freeport is a complete maritime hub which boasts of world class port facilities, airport, tourist destination, security and others.
Aside from these, the Port of Subic Bay has a capacity to handle 600,000 twenty footer equivalent unit containers (TEUs), the SBMA executive said.
The port has a total of 12 piers and wharves, and three terminals.
The SBMA is currently coordinating with international shipping lines to include Subic as part of the cruise ship itinerary and loops, the official added.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is also promoting an inter-island cruise using Subic as its jump point.
"Subic Bay Freeport is the theme-park capital of the Philippines because of the numerous attractions - the Zoobic Safari, Ocean Adventure, Treetop Adventure, Jest Camp Adventure and Bird Park, Funtastic Subic Adventure Park and others," Yambao said.
"Recently we were able to talk with a cruise line and patuloy po namin na tina-try na maging home port for cruise ship and Subic Freeport. Two years ago ito pong MV Spirit of Adventure ay nagdaong sa Subic. Hindi po naging regular sapagkat nagkaroon ng destination schedule na pina-finalize bago maging regular (And we are still trying to make Subic Freeport a home port for cruise ships. MV Spirit docked in Subic two years ago. It wasn’t on a regular basis since there was a destination schedule before it got finalized)," Yambao said.
SBMA is coordinating with the tourism department to make Subic cruise playground, he added.
Yambao added that they have accommodated five cruise ships.