The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Business and Investment Group has reported that committed investments from expansion projects from companies here skyrocketed in 2022 with 6040 percent increase.

According to the group’s year-end report, the committed investments from expansion projects alone in 2022 accrued to ₱36,344,969,889.30, which is 6040 percent more than 2021’s ₱591,914,600.00.

“This proves that my appointment as SBMA Chairman and Administrator is indeed a very big blessing. I am so blessed to be working with a team of hard-working men and women; equally blessed to be appointed at a time when pandemic restrictions started to ease up,” SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino said.

Topping the rank of biggest committed investment in expansion projects are Vectrus Subic Corporation with ₱14,522,658,219.30, Agila South Inc. with ₱10,737,616,537, Agila NY Naval Inc. with ₱6,283,079,863, and Nidec Subic Philippines Corporation, which was recently signed during President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s official visit to Japan, with ₱4,200,000,000.

This manifestation of investor confidence, he said, makes the Subic Bay Freeport Zone more attractive to foreign and local investments who want to make it happen in the Philippines by doing it in Subic Bay.

He also cited that top new investments include Northern Palawan Power Generation Corporation, which will locate at Cawag, Redondo Peninsula and is engaged in real estate development for power generation and other energy sources.

This largely contributed to the total figure with ₱7-billion committed investment.

This is followed by UNCO United Oil and Gas Philippines with ₱1,948,096,000 and Tawi Tawian Petroleum Trading Corporation with ₱1,500,000,000.

Both companies are engaged in petroleum importation and trading.

He also added that the number of new investors has increased from 115 companies in 2021, to 133 in 2022 whose committed investment amounted to ₱14,063,061,938.70.

These 133 new companies aim to employ 1,874 new workers that will add to the workforce of this premier Freeport.

He also cited that the number of investors who plan to implement expansion projects have increased from 24 in 2021 to 38 in 2022.

The expansion projects of these 38 investors will hire 2,832 additional workers.

The year-end report also indicated that in 2021, 24 investors have pledged to expand their companies here with a total committed investment of P591,914,600.00 in 2022, while 38 investors pledged to expand their companies, infusing P36,344,969,889.30 in committed investments.

Thus, the total committed investment from 2021 to 2022 in expansion projects alone has increased by 6,040.24 percent, citing that this is due to the current administration’s motto of Fast, Flexible and Friendly services being implemented since Paulino assumed post.

Meanwhile, SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Renato Lee III said that the operating expenses of the agency recorded as of November 2022 is at 4.14 percent, citing that the agency was able to generate ₱24.17 in revenues for every ₱1 spent.

He added that the revenue from January to November has reached ₱1,690,541,578.00, which is 134.81 percent higher than the target ₱719,949,783.68, resulting in a difference of ₱970,591,794.33.

Lee also said that the number of Certificates of Registration and Tax Exemption (CRTEs) that were processed almost doubled from the target CRTEs, disclosing an increase of 84.91 percent.

He added that the target this year was pegged at 464, while the actual number of processed CRTEs have a total of 858.

The official also revealed that the 879 term sheets processed by the SBMA’s Business and Investment Departments (BIDs) has surpassed the target of 448, a discrepancy of 431 term sheets, or 96.21 percent surplus.

Paulino said that the agency will continue to follow the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aiming to make this premier Freeport into the country’s bastion of economic prowess.

He added that with President Marcos at the helm, foreign investor confidence in Subic Freeport will remain strong.

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