Subic Bay Freeport – This premier Freeport was able to rack up major awards at the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Central Luzon Tourism Recognition for Enterprises and Stakeholders (TRES) Awards 2024 held at the Quest Plus Conference Center, Clark Freeport Zone on February 26, 2025.
“Winning four prestigious awards is a testament that the agency’s collaborative efforts with tourism stakeholders, as well as the tourists themselves, are paying off,” quips Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño.
Proof of these collaborative efforts is when the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) emerged victorious in one of the major awards, the “Most Outstanding Community-Based Tourism Program (Central Luzon Sustainable Tourism Summit 2024).”
The SBFZ also bagged 1st Runner-Up awards in the “Most Outstanding Tourism Month Celebration,” the “Most Creative Printed Marketing Collateral (Ecotourism Brochure)”, and the “Top Tourist Destination in the Province/ Freeport Zone category.”
During the awarding ceremony, DOT Region 3 Regional Director, Dr. Richard Daenos handed the award to SBMA Chief of Staff Atty. Von Rodriguez and Tourism Department Manager Mary Jamelle Camba, who represented the agency on behalf of Chairman Aliño.
The chairman cited that the agency aims to boost the tourism industry in this part of the region, adding that it is currently working on several infrastructure projects and facilities that hope to entice more tourists to visit the Freeport.
In 2024, during its Tourism Summit that was held as part of the Tourism Month celebration, the SBMA launched the Race to Carbon Neutrality, a project which aims to reduce carbon emissions in the SBFZ by 30 percent by 2030, and eventually to net zero by 2040. This will boost the SBFZ’s competitiveness through resource efficiency, improve its brand image by positioning Subic Freeport in the global market, and attract more green foreign direct investments.
“This will also bring the SBMA at the forefront of introducing carbon-neutral development strategies into the economic, industrial, and trade policies of our country.” he added.
Director Daenos stated that the recognition is a great way to give back to DOT3’s stakeholders.
He said, “DOT3 doesn’t undermine the efforts of our industry partners, quite the opposite, we shine a spotlight on their outstanding contributions to the tourism sector for the past year through this award-giving event.”
DOT3’s Tourism Development Division and Tourism Regulations Division took on the rigorous task of narrowing down the list of this year’s TRES Awards.
“The TRES Awards is aimed at inspiring and challenging its stakeholders to remain committed, driven, and empowered to enhance and elevate the overall tourism experience in the region through their significant contributions,” Daenos said.
Aside from the SBFZ, two of its stakeholders also received accolades. Acea Subic Beach Resort
and Ayala Malls Harbor Point bagged awards for showing that stakeholders can greatly boost the tourism sector of this premier Freeport.
Acea Subic Beach Resort received the grand award for the Most Gender-Sensitive Accommodation Facility,” winner in the “Tourism Quality Citation: MICE Event Venue (Outdoor),” and second runner-up for the “Green Champion.” The resort is also the “Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) Advocate awardee.”
Meanwhile, Ayala Malls Harbor Point was awarded the Mabuhay Citation: Public Toilet for having the cleanest and PWD-friendly toilets in Central Luzon.”” The mall management cited that maintenance, training of employees, cleanliness and odor, amenities inside the restroom, air circulation and ventilation system have been factors in achieving this award.
