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Subic truck traders to remain in freeport CBD as long as they have contracts in the Tipo area
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The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Board excluded Tipo area from a moratorium on trading of trucks, buses, and heavy equipment at the freeport
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The move is part of SBMA’s zoning program to provide more space to lease out to other companies looking to move into the freeport area
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Subic Truck Importers Group welcomed the decision to keep its members in the CBD
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has allowed truck traders inside Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) to remain in their old areas at the central business district, as long as they have contracts in the Tipo area.
This came after the SBMA Board issued Resolution No. 20-09-1783, which approved exclusion of the Tipo area from the moratorium on trading of trucks, buses, and heavy equipment. It also provides guidelines in accepting truck trading companies in the area.
SBMA noted that Resolution 20-09-1783 aims to move all truck trading companies to Tipo, an area near the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and far from CBD.
This move is part of the agency’s zoning program to provide more space to lease out to other companies looking to locate in SBFZ.
During a meeting with the Subic Truck Importers Group (STIG), SBMA chairman and administrator Rolen Paulino said the SBMA Board has ordered all truck traders to move to the Tipo area by April 30.
He added that as most of the utilities at Tipo area are still not complete, truck traders are allowed to remain in their old areas in the naval station provided they have a standing contract with warehousing companies in Tipo.
“The SBMA Board has granted me authority to give some leeway to your companies. I can assure you that the agency is looking out for your businesses,” Paulino said. He added that if they already have existing contracts in lease companies in Tipo, the agency will release their Certificate of Registration and Tax Exemptions for them to resume operation.
Three companies have areas conducive for truck traders, buses and heavy equipment companies to locate, but these are still being developed, SBMA said. The companies are Xantheng Subic International Corp., Filman Property Management Consultancy Inc. and Sino Invest.
STIG president Peter Geroue said most clients are already familiar with members’ showrooms near the CBD. If STIG members were not exempted from the board resolution, they would have to be located far from their clients.
Geroue said what the SBMA chairman proposed is a win-win solution for both the SBMA and the companies, citing that the truck traders can still keep their offices near the CBD for operation and as a showroom, while at the same time using the Tipo area as a warehouse.
He added this eliminates the need to park most of their trucks, buses and heavy equipment in a warehouse in Pampanga. They could just be kept in a warehouse in Tipo where they will be more accessible.
Currently, there are around 50 truck trading companies inside SBFZ with most owned by foreign companies. SBMA said the truck traders, bus, and heavy equipment sector has been one of the hardest hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is still reeling from the high prices of fuel in the global market.
