Known more simply as Subic Bay, the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is a unique site in the Philippines. Modelled on similar sites in Hong Kong and Singapore, this is the country’s first successful example of a military base converted to a tax and duty-free zone through volunteerism.
Among the proper tourist attractions of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is Boardwalk Beach. The port town is also home to several shopping centres. These include Harbor Point, the Royal Subic Duty-Free Mall, Puregold Duty-Free, the Freeport Exchange and The Outlet Store. Other nearby attractions include Ocean Adventure and Zoobic Safari.
The Subic Bay Freeport Zone was once part of the adjacent Olongapo City on the southwestern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines. It is a 2.5 hour drive from the national capital of Manila.
Surrounded by Olongapo City, the Subic Bay Freeport Zone is quite close to the site of what was formerly the largest American naval base in Asia. After the Cold War, it was converted into a commercial zone. Over 8,000 residents of the area contributed to the success of the conversion, the first of its kind in the Philippines.