Companies registered in Subic Freeport not only continue to do business but are even expanding operations despite the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the local economy.

Last Friday, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma graced the inauguration of the SBGP-FSI Commercial Complex, a P72-miliion commercial project right at the Subic Bay Gateway Park, an industrial enclave populated by mostly Taiwanese companies.

Eisma said the new project, which broke ground last year, “demonstrates the resiliency of the Subic Freeport to rise amid the pandemic because of solid economic foundation and proves that the Subic agency has taken the right response to the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic.”

The newly-inaugurated complex is a two-story building located along Efficiency Avenue that top-bills SBGP Food Services, Inc. (SBGP-FSI), a joint venture between SBGP developer Subic Bay Development and Management Corp., Inc. (SBDMC) and MCOM Subic Corporation, a firm engaged development and management of properties.

SBDMC President Willy Wang, who also heads SBGP-FSI, said the complex has a high-end 7-Eleven convenience store that has the first ever drive-thru in the country.

The complex also features the Royal Park Restaurant that offers authentic Taiwanese cuisine, a TECO home appliances store, a Taiwanese food specialty store that offers authentic Taiwanese food products, and a function hall with a capacity of 100 persons.

In the same occasion, several Taiwanese firms also donated to the SBMA two ambulances, a police patrol car, and a vaccine refrigerator to boost Subic’s capacity in its vaccination program.

Taian Subic Electric donated the vaccine chamber, while the SBDMC and MCOM Subic Corp. donated the two ambulances. Meanwhile, the police patrol pick-up truck was donated by members of the Subic Bay Taiwan Chamber of Commerce: SBDMC, Inc., Universal Philippines Corp., Sky Movement Logistics, Inc., Tailin Abrasives Corp., Haw Cheng Yen (Paul Gan), Le Charme Hotel, Upower Building Corp., Jack Metal, Inc., Limech Mfg & Trading Corp., Tao Hang Corp., and MSK Group Work, Inc.

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) Philippine Representative Michael Hsu, who also graced the opening, said the SBGP-FSI project and the corporate donations are “a testament of the strong relationship between the Philippines and Taiwan.”

“Now that the SBGP-FSI has opened, Filipinos here can savor the taste of Taiwanese cooking,” Hsu said, adding that cuisine from different countries can break boundaries, and bring countries together.

Senator Richard Gordon, who was among the virtual guests during the inauguration, commended the SBGP-FSI investment, citing that the Taiwanese were among the first to invest in Subic after the US Navy left. He added that Taiwan has been very supportive of the Philippines in terms of business and aid.

Among the local officials who attended the opening were: Hermosa Mayor Antonio Joseph Inton; Olongapo Vice Mayor Jong Cortez; TECO Chairman Theodore Huang; Philippine Seven Corp. Vice President Robert Tseng; SBDMC Chairman Chin Der Ou; SBGP-FSI Chairman Tung Hai Kao; Taiwan Trade Center Director Clement Chen; Taiwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines Inc. Chairman Michael Lin; Taiwanese Compatriot Association in the Philippines Chairman Simon Su; Subic Taiwan Chamber of Commerce President Andy Liu; Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Donna Tamayo; SBMA senior deputy administrators Ramon Agregado and Ronnie Yambao; and SBMA Board directos Benasing Macarambon Jr., Rolando Ampunin, Maria Cecilia Bitare, and Marvin Macapagal.