Bureau of Customs inks 25-year free rent pact with SBMA
BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio (left) and SBMA Chairman Eduardo Jose Aliño show the agreement they signed. Photo courtesy of BOC
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to strengthen their partnership and also allow a 25-year rent-free tenure within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
In a statement on Friday, BOC said that the MOA is aimed at “optimizing customs operations, encouraging investment inflows, and reinforcing strategic oversight” inside the freeport zone.
The BOC said the agreement signed by Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio and SBMA Chairman Eduardo Jose Aliño, signifies a continued commitment to economic growth and efficient operations.
“The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Bureau of Customs not only represents a 25-year, rent-free tenure within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone but most importantly, it is a powerful, resounding affirmation of the enduring, symbiotic partnership that binds our two institutions,” Rubio said in a statement posted on BOC’s website.
“We are confident that this partnership will lead to a surge in trade volumes, the attraction of new investments, and a substantial boost in revenue collection that will fund our government’s projects and uplift the lives of every Filipino,” Rubio added.
Under the MOA, the BOC must maintain its facilities, comply with environmental standards, and properly manage seized goods. The SBMA, on the other hand, will ensure access to properties essential for customs functions — boosting operational efficiency and border security.
Prior to the 25-year rent-free tenure in the Subic freeport zone, the BOC had been in the area for 18 years due to its function regarding revenue collection, trade facilitation, and border protection, as established in Republic Act No. 7227, or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992.
Aliño said the MOA is important because the two agencies’ shared goal is to develop a modern (POS) building.
“The impact or benefit of a new POS building extends far beyond the infrastructure itself. We are confident that, upon completion, this facility will enhance services and provide greater convenience for both Bureau of Customs clients and pre-port stakeholders,” Aliño said.
