Subic Bay News

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𝐒𝐁𝐌𝐀 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟, 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝-𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐬; 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐞-𝐛𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐜 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

Subic Bay Freeport – To ease the burden on Freeport companies and stakeholders as they cope with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) further reduced port tariff rates, temporarily suspended the collection of Environmental and Tourism Administrative Fees (ETAF), and maintained the full fare subsidy for e-buses here.

SBMA Board Resolution No. 26-04-1768, which was approved and ratified during the 79th Meeting of the Board of Directors on April 21, 2026, at the Corporate Boardroom of the Administration Building, further reduces port tariff rates in support of Executive Order No. 110.

Executive Order No. 110, signed in March 2026, declares a State of National Energy Emergency due to Middle East conflicts and adopts the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Program. This whole-of-government approach aims to stabilize energy supply, control prices, and support vulnerable sectors through financial aid.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño explained that the said resolution states that the SBMA will further reduce port tariff rates by 30%, on top of the 5% reduction provided by B.R. No. 26-04-1766, for a total reduction of 35%. This includes Charges on Vessels, Harbor Fee, Berthing Fee/ Anchorage Fee, Harbor Cleaning Fee, Charges on Cargoes, and Wharfage Fees.

Aliño also announced that the SBMA will implement the reduction in transport costs and the continuation of the e-bus full fare subsidy, citing that these will be immediate and transparent as part of the agency’s relief measures to address the effects of the emergency energy crisis.

He added that these include reducing the Road-User’s Fee by 50%, deferring the implementation of its programmed increase, and also continuing the implementation of free e-bus transport services for the Freeport community and visitors.

Meanwhile, ETAF collection has also been suspended pending the lifting of EO110, which placed the entire country under a State of National Energy Emergency.

Chairman Aliño clarified that these measures are temporary interventions that will be terminated upon recommendation by the SBMA when geopolitical tensions ease and supply chain conditions normalize.

“The SBMA’s move to reduce port tariff rates and continue the full fare subsidy for e-buses is in support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s thrust to ensure stability in the country during this State of National Energy Emergency in the Philippines due to global oil supply disruptions and rising prices,” Aliño further said.

These strategic measures shall apply to all stakeholders and industry participants whose operations are affected by the prevailing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The implementation of these interventions was designed to generate a beneficial cascading effect throughout the maritime supply chain.

These include primary beneficiaries such as importers, suppliers, consignees, vessel owners, and end-consumers, as well as operational intermediaries such as terminal operators, cargo handlers, customs brokers, consolidators, processors, shipping agents, and shipping lines.

“These interventions are strategically implemented to ensure that economic relief and enhanced efficiencies are achieved throughout the entire supply chain, thereby securing the uninterrupted flow of goods from initial port arrival to final destination,” he said.

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬
𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

Manila—As part of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine diplomatic ties and the Freedom 250 commemoration of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, the United States is organizing a series of Galing USA promotions in April and May to showcase the exceptional quality, versatility, and local application of U.S. food products and expand market access for American agribusiness in the Philippines.

In partnership with the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), ten of the Philippines’ finest restaurants celebrate American Restaurant Month by offering special dishes that demonstrate how America’s finest beef, poultry, and specialty ingredients inspire culinary excellence across cooking styles and traditions. From April 13 to May 13, the following restaurants and their branches across 32 locations will offer special menu items ranging from USDA ribeye steaks and U.S. duck confit to selections of American cheeses:

• 25 Seeds
• Bizu Patisserie and Café
• Café Fleur
• Cyma
• Dickey’s Barbeque Pit
• Farmer’s Table
• Mamou
• One World Deli
• Souv
• The Split

Leading a U.S. Agribusiness Trade Mission to the Philippines, Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering said, “This initiative highlights the strong partnership between our nations and showcases the exceptional quality of U.S. products featured on these menus. U.S. products are celebrated for their unparalleled quality and standards, which is why so many exceptional restaurants choose to incorporate U.S. ingredients into their culinary creations.”

USDA is also partnering with The Marketplace and Metro Supermarket to promote a wide range of American food and beverage products, including U.S. meat and poultry, cheese, and blueberries. Shoppers can taste “Authentic American Flavors” at The Marketplace Parqal Mall location in Parañaque City and experience the “Great American Food Fest” at Metro Supermarket’s Market! Market! location in Taguig City from April 13 to 26.

“American farmers and ranchers are proud to supply high-quality and delicious products to consumers here in the Philippines,” said Deputy Under Secretary Bekkering. “We greatly value our strong partnership with Filipino retailers like The Marketplace and Market! Market!, who help bring the best of American agriculture and flavors to Filipino households.”

On April 14, Deputy Under Secretary Bekkering led the awarding of Key Partners in U.S. Agricultural Excellence and Prosperity to eight Filipino organizations for their valuable contributions to strengthening bilateral trade and food security by making high-quality U.S. food and agricultural products available to Filipino consumers. “The awardees constitute nearly 200 years of combined U.S.-Philippines partnership. We are truly honored by your continued trust in U.S. agriculture, and grateful for the role each of you plays in strengthening our bilateral relationship,” she noted.

The awardees are:

• Century Pacific Food, Inc.
• Dane International Commodities, Inc.
• Jetti Petroleum, Inc.
• Meat Importers and Traders Association
• Philippine Association of Feed Millers, Inc.
• Philippine Association of Flour Millers, Inc.
• Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc.
• Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc.

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Y. Robert Ewing added, “This recognition reflects the broader strength of the U.S.-Philippine trade relationship as partners in prosperity. It is an auspicious occasion to recognize this inaugural class of honorees as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine diplomatic ties this year.”

The Philippines is the tenth largest market for U.S. agricultural and food products, averaging $3.4 billion in annual exports over the past five years.

Galing USA is an initiative by USDA through the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines’ Foreign Agricultural Service, aimed at promoting high-quality U.S. food and beverage products in the Philippine market.

For more updates on American Restaurant Month and U.S. food promotions, follow Galing USA on Facebook.

𝐒𝐄𝐂 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐅𝐒 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended the deadline for the submission of annual financial statements (AFS) and other annual reports that require AFS as an attachment.

In a notice dated April 14, the SEC revised the filing deadlines provided under SEC Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 9, Series of 2026, after the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) extended the submission of 2025 Annual Income Tax Returns (ITR) and its required attachments to May 15.

Under MC 9, financial statements submitted to the Commission must first be stamped “received” or duly received by the BIR.

In line with this, the deadline for the submission of AFS by domestic and foreign corporations with fiscal year ending on December 31, 2025 has been moved to June 15 from May 29.

The deadline is applicable to all corporations, including branch offices, representative offices, regional headquarters and regional operating headquarters of foreign corporations, whose fiscal years ended on December 31. Corporations under the jurisdiction of the SEC Extension Offices follow the same schedule.

For brokers and dealers, the deadline for the submission of SEC Form 52-AR, with AFS as attachment, has been moved to May 15 from April 30.

Issuers with securities listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), issuers with securities not listed on the PSE, public companies and other companies covered under Section 17.2 of Republic Act No. 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code, may submit their annual reports (SEC Form 17-A), with AFS as an attachment, until May 15.

“The SEC is giving corporations more time to submit their AFS with the SEC so that they may take advantage of the extension provided by the BIR,” SEC Chairperson Francis Lim said.

“Beyond the alignment, we want to provide corporations ample time to finalize their reports and ensure the accuracy and completeness of information provided in their financial statements,” he added.

The AFS shall be filed through the Commission’s Electronic Filing and Submission Tool, or eFAST. Companies who filed their AFS through the online system of BIR shall attach the system-generated transaction reference number/confirmation receipt which contains a document issued by the Bureau, confirming the successful upload of the file.