The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), operator of the Subic Bay Freeport, is pushing for the construction of a dedicated cruise ship facility and terminal estimated to cost PHP10.2 billion, in support of the country’s growing cruise tourism sector.
SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie Yambao said the project will have two phases. Phase 1 involves the construction of a cruise ship jetty worth PHP1.2 billion, featuring two berths—one measuring 360 meters and the other 380 meters—with a depth of 12 meters.
Yambao said the timetable for Phase 1 has been adjusted to 2027–2028, from the earlier target of 2026–2027.
Phase 2 involves land reclamation for the cruise passenger terminal, as well as the development of a cruise leisure and commercial area. The estimated infrastructure cost for this phase is PHP8.96 billion, with implementation scheduled from 2028 to 2030.
Yambao noted that the project costing was based on estimates as of December 2023.
He added that a dedicated cruise passenger terminal would greatly benefit both local and national economies through job creation, revenue from port fees, and increased tourism spending.
While Subic Freeport has long been included in cruise ship itineraries, passengers currently use the existing general terminal. Yambao said a dedicated cruise terminal would significantly improve access and convenience.
The authority aims to surpass pre-pandemic cruise activity by targeting 20 cruise ship arrivals in 2025.
Recent cruise ship calls in Subic include around 650 passengers aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey in September 2025 and approximately 2,490 passengers on the MV Serenade of the Seas in March 2024. SBMA also processed 2,700 passengers during the visit of the MV Costa Serena.
The Freeport likewise hosted the MV Silver Dawn in December 2024, when the luxury vessel made its maiden call with about 1,000 passengers and crew on board.
