The Subic Bay Freeport and the municipality of Hermosa in Bataan are being considered for interconnection under the proposed Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) Railway Project, a major freight rail system designed to boost Luzon’s logistics network.
In a meeting held earlier this month at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) boardroom, members of the SCMB Technical Working Group met with officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), The Cadmus Group, and Hermosa Mayor Anne Adorable-Inton to discuss key components of the planned link.
SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie Yambao said discussions focused on a proposed eight-kilometer access road connecting Hermosa to Subic Freeport’s Naval Supply Depot via two bridges. The project is estimated to cost ₱1.8 billion.
The group also tackled measures to safeguard Indigenous Peoples (IP) rights, corresponding compensation packages, and the proposed logistics terminal between Hermosa and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ). Other topics included trade volume, port statistics, and the alignment of the logistics roadmap and bypass road from SBFZ to Hermosa.
The SCMB Railway Project is envisioned as a 250-kilometer freight railway linking four major Luzon economic hubs—Subic, Clark, Manila, and Batangas. The system aims to ease congestion at the Port of Manila by enabling faster, more efficient cargo movement.
The project remains in its development phase, with a feasibility study being jointly conducted by the United States, Sweden, and the Asian Development Bank, with technical assistance from the US Trade and Development Agency.
Part of the Luzon Economic Corridor Initiative, the SCMB railway is expected to spur investment and drive long-term economic growth across Central and Southern Luzon.
