SUBIC BAY

Port of Subic, Port of San Diego to Establish Sister-Port Partnership to Enhance Trade, Cruise Tourism, and Sustainable Port Practices
Oct 14, 2026

Subic Bay Freeport – The Port of Subic and the Port of San Diego will formalize a sister-port agreement on 15 October 2026 in San Diego, California, aimed at strengthening bilateral maritime ties and promoting enhanced trade, cruise tourism, commercial cargo development, and environmentally sustainable port technologies.

Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, Chairman and Administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), emphasized that this partnership will provide a structured framework for both ports to exchange expertise, identify new business opportunities, and share best practices to adapt to the evolving global maritime landscape.

“A central focus of our collaboration will be the expansion of trade and commercial cargo services,” Aliño explained. “The sister-port relationship between SBMA and the Port of San Diego will enable us to explore potential cargo routes, logistics initiatives, and other opportunities that could
strengthen trade links between Subic Bay and California.”

The agreement also prioritizes cruise tourism cooperation, with both ports committed to exchanging knowledge on cruise operations, passenger handling, port services, and tourism infrastructure. This exchange is expected to enhance Subic Bay’s capabilities as a premier cruise destination and improve the overall visitor experience for passengers and cruise operators.

Aliño added that environmental sustainability is a critical component of the partnership. The Port of San Diego’s extensive experience in implementing green port technologies and environmental programs will provide valuable insights for SBMA. This collaboration will focus on cleaner port operations, energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and other eco-friendly initiatives adaptable to Subic Bay’s context.

Ronnie Yambao, SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations, noted that the sister-port arrangement will also foster strong people-to-people and professional connections through exchanges involving port officials, maritime industry stakeholders, and related organizations in shipping, logistics, and tourism.

“Positioned as a major maritime and logistics hub in the Philippines, Subic Bay stands to gain significantly from broadened international partnerships,” Yambao stated. “Our cooperation with San Diego will help expand SBMA’s global network and uncover new opportunities in cargo, cruise tourism, and sustainable port development.”

This agreement underscores a shared commitment to making ports more connected, competitive, and environmentally responsible while creating new avenues for economic cooperation between the Philippines and the United States.

In line with its ongoing efforts to strengthen international maritime collaborations, SBMA earlier signed a similar sister-port agreement with the Port of Kaohsiung in February 2026. The agency plans to further expand its network with an upcoming sister-port agreement with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Belgium, scheduled for May 2027.

News 2026