Subic Bay Freeport

Subic Bay was the largest American naval facility outside the United States until the bases agreement ended in 1992, and what happened next is unusual: rather than dismantling it, the government converted the whole reservation into a freeport and economic zone, keeping the infrastructure, the street grid, the forest and the deep-water port. The result is a district that does not feel like anywhere else in the Philippines - wide roads, old base housing, working traffic lights and a large block of rainforest that was retained as a watershed and is now used for jungle survival training and wildlife tours. Subic Bay itself holds several wrecks, including the USS New York and Japanese vessels sunk in 1944-45, which makes it one of the country's better wreck-diving areas. Beaches run along the western shore toward Barretto and Zambales proper, and duty-free shopping and a scattering of theme attractions fill out the zone.

History

The Spanish built a shipyard and naval base in Subic Bay in the 1800s, and later it became the U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay. A law of 13 March 1992 turned the base into the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone, the last ship, USS Belleau Wood, left on 24 November 1992, and some 8,000 residents of Olongapo helped guard its facilities during the handover (Wikipedia, Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone).

The main sights

• The old base - street grid, housing and port infrastructure retained.
• The wreck dives - vessels sunk in the bay, including the USS New York.
• The rainforest block - the retained watershed and its trails.
• The western beaches - the shore toward Barretto and Zambales.

When to go

November to May for dry weather and calm diving. Weekends bring Manila traffic into the zone; weekdays are considerably quieter.

Good to know

It is a commercial zone with an odd, semi-suburban atmosphere rather than a resort. Wreck dives are deep and require appropriate certification. Getting around inside the zone needs a vehicle or jeepney.

Nearby

Pundaquit, Anawangin and the Capones lighthouse are up the Zambales coast; Clark and Pampanga are inland.

Key facts