Subic’s bright future

In 2021, the Supreme Court reinstated an order issued by the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court a decade earlier which compelled the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to award a P5.5 billion contract for the development, operation and management of several ports inside the Subic special economic and freeport zone to Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. (HCPTI).

Now, all eyes are on Subic Bay as HCPTI is set to begin operations at the freeport as it embarks on this project jointly with SBMA.

According to HCPTI’s Reghis Romero II, their entry will enhance and modernize the non-containerized cargo facilities of the former US Navy base and enable SBMA to double the port’s bulk and breakbulk cargo volume within the next two years.

For the longest time, Subic port needed improvements to become a world-class facility worthy of being called an international shipping gateway, according to one report.

With HCPTI’s entry, it is expected that the Subic port will see an improvement in all aspects of operational efficiencies as the project brings in modern cargo handling equipment and much-needed automation to be implemented system-wide, from berthing to delivery, in order to speed up both cargo and ship turnaround times.

Romero is envisioning Harbour Centre’s development of Subic Port to complement Clark which, taken together, will help create Luzon’s new economic hub.

Clark Development Corp. (CDC) chairman Edgardo Pamintuan seems to agree.

According to Pamintuan, both foreign and local investors, especially those involved in imports and export-oriented manufacturing, require the types of infrastructure available in Clark and Subic but at the level of capacities that befit their current and future requirements. In short, they need the element of permanence that are best guaranteed by both physical and policy infrastructure and the entry of Harbour Centre into Subic will achieve this.

Pamintuan was also quoted as saying that it is imperative for the country as an archipelago to beef up its airports and seaports to remain a truly active part of the global supply chain. For the entire northern half of the Philippines, this, he emphasized, is being served by Clark and Subic through an effective process of infrastructure complementation.

He noted that Subic is a very strategic sea-based regional gateway for the flow of goods and services and can help turn the entire northern half of mainland Luzon into another Singapore, even as he stressed that to view Subic port as simply a facility for the freeport’s locators is utterly displaced, thus the need for Harbour Centre to come into Subic to help spur economic growth.

It has been observed that looking at Subic on the map, no other port at the western flank of Luzon could take in its place in terms of its strategic location and security attributes, unless an entirely new freeport zone is developed at the Lingayen Gulf because the San Fernando Port in La Union is just too small for the desired scale of economic development.

Singapore’s total land area is only 73,430 hectares or just 1,578 hectares more than the combined size of Clark and Subic.  Still, Singapore’s GDP amounted to $466.79 billion in 2022, even bigger than that of the entire Philippines at $404.28 billion in the same year.

Singapore relies mostly, if not solely, on manufacturing, services and trade because of its lack of natural resources, it being an island city state.

Imagine what a modern Subic port, thanks to Harbour Centre, can do not only for Central and Northern Luzon but for the entire country, given our diverse resources.

Father-daughter tandem

In the law firm of Ocampo,  Manalo, Valdez, and Lim (OMLAW), two names stand out: Atty. Nelson Antolin and Atty. Jamie Antolin. This father-daughter tandem has carved a niche for themselves in the legal world, each  bringing their unique perspectives and experiences to the table.

Jamie decided to join OMLAW 10 years ago because of the firm’s full-service practice. It offers  its lawyers many opportunities to practice various branches of law but it was the firm’s culture that truly resonated with her, with the senior partners being mentors who unselfishly impart knowledge. Her initial years at the firm were marked by a desire to explore various facets of law, from  corporate law to litigation. This exploratory phase was instrumental in shaping her career, allowing  her to delve into areas like aviation law, which Jamie finds particularly intriguing.

Meanwhile, her father, 76-year-old Nelson is a testament to the adage that age is just  a number. His mind, sharper than individuals half his age, is a treasure trove of legal knowledge  and experience.

Coming from SyCip Law where he dedicated 40 years primarily to litigation, he made the transition to OMLAW  following his retirement from SyCip in 2020.

At the heart of OMLAW’s practice is a deep-seated commitment to their clients, emphasizing the  importance of building and maintaining strong client relationships, a philosophy that sets OMLAW  apart in a competitive field.

Meanwhile, technology has revolutionized many professions, and law is no exception. The  flexibility offered by digital tools has been a boon, allowing both Jamie and Nelson to balance  their professional commitments with their responsibilities at home. However, this convenience  comes with its own set of challenges. The constant connectivity means that the boundaries between  work and personal time can blur.

Jamie and Nelson have carved out their own niches in the legal world, yet their paths are  inextricably linked by familial bonds and a shared dedication to their profession.

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