In days past, Subic was known as the site of a US naval base. Today, it successfully plays host to many business ventures and leisure attractions. Subic Bay Subic Bay is on the west coast of the island of Luzon in the Philippines, about 100 km northwest of Manila Bay. It has a successful industrial and commercial area known as the Subic Bay Freeport Zone under the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.      Subic Bay is surrounded by Olongapo City, the town of Subic and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, both in the province of Zambales. Also in the bay was Cubi Point Naval Air Station and Grande Island, once home to Fort Wint and later turned into a military resort. Development of Olongapo City was largely tied to the presence of the United States Navy base at Subic Bay, once the largest U.S. military base in Asia.      Subic has since been successfully transformed and became a model for bases conversion into commercial use after the Cold War with blue chip companies pumping in over US$3 billion of investments creating 200,000 jobs in the first four years.      In addition to commercial use, Subic Bay is also a popular destination for weekend visitors from Manila. Subic is picturesque and serene, teeming with flora and fauna found only in its bountiful forests, and its blue bay waters endowed with rich marine life. It’s a sanctuary where you will find yourself truly closer to nature. Subic distinguishes itself as the only destination that offers diverse activities, the best niche experiences, and a lifestyle that is simply beyond compare.      Attractions you can find in Subic include several small beaches, an underwater aquarium, jungle survival tours, and duty-free shopping centers. The SBMA Sec.13 of Republic Act No. 7227 created the corporate body known as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). The SBMA is the operating and implementing arm of the Government of the Philippines in developing the 67,000 hectare area of Subic Bay Freeport (SBF) into a self-sustaining industrial, commercial, financial, and investment and academe center to generate, among others, employment opportunities in and around the Zone.      The powers of the SBMA are exercised through its Chairman and 15 Directors appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines - with two representatives from the National Government, five representatives from the private sector and eight representatives from the local government units (LGUs) and from the business sector. The members of the Board serve for a term of six years, except for representatives from the local government, who each has a three year term.      The SBMA is tasked to develop the Subic Bay Freeport into a globally-competitive, self-sustaining and environment-friendly center for industry, commerce, finance, investment, academe and tourism in the Asia-Pacific Region. Subic Bay Freeport Zone Competitive Subic Bay has a veritable edge as a center for trade and investment because of its Freeport status. It offers many distinct advantages, making Subic Bay a truly business-ready destination.      Subic Bay Freeport is now at the crossroads that will define its future. Its immense potentials will soon be realized as it gears up to become the country’s best and most competitive international service and logistics center in the Southeast Asian Region.      SBF is located southwest of the Luzon Island in the Philippines. The harbor is sandwiched by the Zambales Mountain Range at the east and the Subic Bay at the west and opens up to the South China Sea. It is northwest of the Bataan Peninsula and southwest of the Zambales Province. The mountain ranges around the Subic Bay area and the deep natural harbor provide excellent and protected anchorage. In addition, these features make SBF naturally sheltered from natural calamities.      SBF belongs to Region III or the Central Luzon Region. It is one of the points in the growth triangle and is an engine for economic development in the region. SBF is a supplier of services and products for the Central Luzon Development Program (CLDP), a regional growth area composed of the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales.      The SBF blends white sand beaches, clear bay waters and tropical forests with a progressive business area making it a perfect model of development in harmony with nature. Business in Subic The Subic Bay Freeport boasts of a strategic location located at the very heart of Southeast Asia, center of the world’s fastest growing and most densely populated region. It is easily accessible by land, air and sea. Practically half of the world’s container fleet passes by the area.      Currently, the Freeport hosts companies that are engaged in the following business activities:       Light Industries       Electronics       Tourism       Retirement Facilities       Marine Services       Transshipping       Cargo Handling       Warehousing       Information Technology       Computer Centers       Satellite Broadcasting       Education       Technical Training       Entertainment       Aircraft Services   Tourism and Recreation Subic Bay offers the best variety of tourism and recreational attractions.       Luxurious Hotels       Marina       Beaches       Golf Greens       Eco-Tourism       Watersports       Car and Go-Kart Racing       Skating       Bowling       Cycling       Motocross       Duty-Free Shopping       Casinos       Restaurants       Videoke Bars and       Other Amusement Facilities   Residential Areas The residential housing units are situated in serene and well-maintained locations with jogging and hiking areas, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts and convenience stores. Postal, courier and internet service providers, along with easy access to all forms of mass media, link residents of the Freeport to the world. Cable television, telephone services as well as international banking institutions which offer financing facilities, electronic banking and investment services are within reach. Education Subic is fast becoming a venue for learning institutions. Among the institutions and programs established include:       Brent International School Subic       SPED or the Special Education for the Gifted Children       Regional Science High School       Western Luzon Agricultural College       Mondriaan Aura College       ATENEO-REGIS MBA Executive Degree Program (by the Ateneo De Manila University Graduate School of Business and Regis’ International Studies)       International Development and Environmental Shipping School (IDESS) IDESS Maritime Centre       Philippine Science & Technology Centers Inc. (PSTC)       University of the Philippines extension school       COMTEQ Computer College   Medical Facilities The former US Naval Hospital at Cubi Point has been converted into a 55-bed capacity Subic Legend Health and Medical Center (SLHMC). The hospital has several Intensive Care Units (ICU) - Surgical, Medical, Pediatric, Neonatal - with world class monitors and ventilators. Its laboratory has the latest automated diagnostic and ultrasound machines. Its Eye Center has the most advanced laser equipment for eye treatment. High-tech anesthesiology machines and operating microscopes for microsurgery are being used for surgical operations. The OB-GYN Section has computerized fetal monitor and special birthing beds. Orthodontic and Pediatric dentistry are also offered.      The SBMA Health and Safety Group offers quality outpatient and 24-hour emergency health care services. It has three (3) medical outlets inside the zone - the SBMA Dispensary at Dewey Ave. and in Cubi, and the New Terminal Clinic at the Subic Bay International Airport. The group also conducts preventive health programs, training courses and health surveillance to employees through annual physical examinations and pre-employment examinations.