Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Director Maria Cecilia Bitare and United States Marine Corps Colonel Luke Watson, commanding officer of Blount Island Command based in Jacksonville, Florida, share a light moment after opening the hub at the Naval Supply Depot Compound in the Subic Bay Freeport zone on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. The 5,300-sq.m. warehouse will be used for Marine Corps prepositioning programs on humanitarian aid and disaster relief equipment for the Indo-Pacific region. (Photo from the SBMA)
SAN ANTONIO, Zambales, Philippines — The United States (US) Marine Corps opened on Tuesday, Feb. 3, a warehouse at a Naval Supply Depot inside the Subic Bay Freeport to store humanitarian aid and disaster relief equipment.
US Marine Corps Col. Luke Watson, the commanding officer of Blount Island Command based in Jacksonville, Florida, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Director Maria Cecilia Bitare and other SBMA officials led the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
In a statement on Wednesday, Feb. 4, Watson said the facility would enable the prepositioning of equipment for humanitarian efforts as part of their Indo-Pacific region operations.
“This is one of our ashore sites for humanitarian aid and disaster relief. As part of the Marine Corps’ global prepositioning network, there will be no ammunition — only motor transportation, communication, and engineering equipment,” Watson added.
On Monday, Watson also met with SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño to discuss port operations, focusing on efficiencies needed for a sustainable logistics node.
Aliño expressed full support for the entry of equipment into the freeport, highlighting its strategic location for deploying aid across the Indo-Pacific region.
“Subic Bay Freeport has become a logistics hub for the maritime and aviation industries in the country, making it one of the most strategic areas for humanitarian aid deployment,” Aliño said.
“This is a great stride for Subic Bay Freeport in assisting foreign allies in their efforts to provide humanitarian aid and relief assistance,” he added.