Representatives of Central Luzon tourism stakeholders, led by Department of Tourism Region 3 Director Richard G. Daenos (third from left) and SBMA Director Raul Marcelo (fourth from left), signed the Declaration of Carbon Neutrality during the 2nd Central Luzon Sustainable Tourism Summit.
By 2030, the Subic Bay Freeport is expected to lead the country in terms of green tourism destinations. This is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directive to focus on “experiential tourism” and eco-tourism. With its eyes on the target, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has launched various initiatives as it races to transform the freeport into a carbon-neutral tourism destination by 2030 in compliance with the directive of the President.
Under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, President Marcos urged all government agencies to “position the Philippines as a prime destination of foreign investments against climate change or environmental, social, and governance investments.”
“Food, culture, heritage, and the arts; education; halal and Islamic traditions; dive sites, cruises, farms, eco-tourism, even sports, now have become potent subjects and products of a nation’s tourism,” President Marcos said.
The President also explained that the tourism challenge has already evolved and now requires a “multi-faceted strategy” starting with a carbon-neutral tourism destination, and the expansion of the “one town, one product” (OTOP) concept.
“It must not inhibit, but rather inspire. We must not rest content to have just one. Rather, we must seek the optimal number of high-quality products and services, which at the same time showcase the country’s distinctive history, traditions, and talents,” adding that his administration would prioritize tourism, and hone that sector’s potential to generate more jobs for Filipinos.
Challenge Accepted
In response to the President’s challenge, SBMA OIC for the Office of the Senior Deputy Administrator for Regulatory Group and Ecology Center manager Amethya dela Llana said the SBMA has launched the “Race to Carbon Neutrality.” She said several projects and programs with the aim of achieving a carbon-neutral status within the zone will soon be in place as Subic Bay Freeport pushes to become the first carbon-neutral economic zone in the country.
Carbon neutrality is the absence of additional carbon emissions in any activity. It means that the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount removed from the same. This is also known as net zero carbon emissions or net zero carbon. This can be done by driving less, shopping responsibly, and using energy-efficient practices.
“As a significant energy consumer, the SBMA aims to pioneer this initiative, making carbon neutrality a way of life. The ultimate vision is to extend these policies nationally, positioning the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as a testbed for implementing widespread carbon reduction strategies,” Dela Llana said in a meeting with some 270 tourism and environmental stakeholders.
The Race to Carbon Neutrality aims to reduce carbon emissions in Subic Freeport by 30 percent by 2030 and eventually to net zero by 2040. In effect, it will boost its competitiveness through resource efficiency, improve its brand image by positioning itself in the global market, and attract more “green” foreign direct investments.
SBMA OIC for the Office of the Senior Deputy Administrator for Regulatory and Ecology Center manager Amethya dela Llana discussed the provisions and projects under “Race to Carbon Neutrality”.
“Let’s make this a way of life,” Dela Llana said, adding that the bigger challenge for the agency is its being an economic zone with large consumers of electricity and other forms of energy that contribute high concentrations of carbon footprint, or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As of November 2024, the Freeport Zone hosts 1,900 businesses with a workforce of more than 162,000 individuals.
“This challenge also makes the economic zone a good place to pioneer and pilot many GHG emission reduction efforts because geographically, we are blessed with the abundance of carbon stocks,” Dela Llana noted.
She further explained that the SBFZ has 60 hectares of mangrove areas with the potential to sequester 2,016 metric tons of carbon emissions annually and a watershed forest reserve of 10,000 hectares, which can neutralize 400,000 metric tons of carbon emissions. This will bring the SBMA at the forefront of introducing carbon-neutral development strategies into the economic, industrial, and trade policies.
“The SBMA will protect, restore, and expand Subic’s natural ecosystem so it can do what it does best—capturing carbon emissions,” the Ecology Center chief added.
12-Pronged Program
As the SBMA pushes for a Carbon Neutral Freeport by 2040, the following initiatives will be undertaken: (1) adoption of a carbon neutral framework; (2) emissions reduction planning; (3) prioritization of energy efficiency; (4) utilization of electric vehicles within the SBFZ for carbon reduction targets; (5) utilization of emerging technologies; (6) leveraging on renewable (energy); (7) adoption of smart waste management; (8) stakeholder engagement; (9) mangrove rehabilitation and restoration program; (10) forest conservation program; (11) bamboo forest development for increased oxygen production, higher carbon absorption, and tourist attraction; and (12) source financing.
Meanwhile, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño shared that the agency plans to establish a roadmap for net zero-carbon facilities within the SBFZ. It will also develop a set of supporting incentives and programs that will enable Subic businesses to achieve net-zero targets and use emerging technologies leveraging on renewable energy.
A pioneering project under this program was revealed early this year by the SBMA chief during the “Build Better More” Infrastructure Forum in July at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. Presented was the SBMA’s P250-million Carbon Neutral Port project, which Aliño said will make Subic the first Philippine port with shore power connection for ships. The shore power system, which will provide electrical power to an idling ship so it can shut down its engines, will cut air pollution from ships at berth by 95 percent. Phase 1 of the project will be undertaken at Subic’s New Container Terminal in 2025, while Phase 2 will cover both the Naval Supply Depot and Ship Repair Facility from 2026 to 2027.
Other projects in the pipeline for Subic’s carbon-neutral program involve decarbonizing buildings and transportation, adopting low-carbon infrastructure designs, energy efficiency and conservation, use of renewable energy sources, and solid waste and waste water management.
Subic Freeport is one of the country’s most-visited tourism sites and Central Luzon’s biggest tourist hotspots. It was also ranked fifth among the most visited places in the country. In 2021, despite lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it had a total of 7,374,332 visitors and 737,486 tourists. In 2022, it had over nine million tourist arrivals, which grew to over ten million in 2023. Same-day tourist arrivals were pegged at 10,147,461 in 2023 and 9,430,694 in November 2024.
Hotel occupancy rate reached 52.3 percent in 2022, which went up to 59.56 percent in 2023. It is expected to hit almost double when 2024 numbers are tallied.
SBMA Board Director Raul Marcelo also shared that Central Luzon’s tourism sectors are actively embracing sustainable practices. (PBS)
