Olongapo/Subic Information


Business on SBMA

  • There ar over 100 businesses of various types
  • Banks and ATMs (both CIRRUS and PLUS systems)
  • Beaches (all the old ones, lookin better than ever, with jet skis for rent, bungee jumping and para-sailing)
  • Bowling alley
  • Casinos
  • Book, compuiter and office supply stores
  • Department stores/ Supermarkets
  • Gas Stations
  • Drive shop
  • Fuel farm
  • Golf course (membership required, very expensive)
  • Hardware store
  • International hotesl (not cheap)
  • Karaoke
  • Movie theaters
  • Restaurants - Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Steak House, fast food
  • Riding stable
  • Many factories (clothing, computers, faucets, etc)

If there is something you want to do, SBFZ has it. However, not many retires use the facilities other than duty free shopping - the recreational areas do not come cheap.

The two biggest businesses on SBFZ are the Asian hub of FEDEX which occupies the Cubi Point airfield, and ACER computers, a Taiwanese company located in the Taiwanese Industrial Park. FEDEX began full scale operation in June 1995. All the management level personnel came from the States and live on SBFZ. They (and all the other companies on SBMA) are not hiring expats, including retirees. This is part of the SBMA charter. If there is a Philippine citizen on the list of available workers who has the qualifications, he or she must be given the job. Only if there is no one qualified can the employer look elsewhere. If you are a local resident, expat or otherwise, you work for Philippine wages.

Majority of big businesses inside the SBFZ is a member of Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce - The Chamber is an independent, nonprofit, membership-funded organization founded in 1995 to serve and represent the interests of its member businesses. The single distinguishing characteristic that sets SBFCC apart from other Chambers of Commerce is that our member businesses come from some 20 countries around the world.