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Subic Bay Freeport (SBF) is located southwest of the Luzon Island in the Philippines. The harbor is sandwiched by the Zambales Mountain Range at the east and the Subic Bay at the west and opens up to the South China Sea. It is northwest of the Bataan Peninsula and southwest of the Zambales Province. SBF is 110 kilometers north of Manila. Manila Bay and the Bataan Peninsula separate SBF from Manila. The mountain ranges around the Subic Bay area and the deep natural harbor provide excellent and protected anchorage. In addition, these features make SBF naturally sheltered from typhoons as well as from the effects of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. SBF belongs to Region III or the Central Luzon
Region. It is one of the points in the growth triangle and is
an engine for economic development in the region. SBF is a supplier
of services and products for the Central Luzon Development Program
(CLDP), a regional growth area composed of the provinces of Bulacan,
Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales. Climate Like the rest of the Philippines, the climate
in SBF is tropical. Population The population in SBF is estimated at 3,000. Right next to SBF is Olongapo City with a population of approximately 194,260. The adjacent provinces to SBF, Bataan and Zambales,
have populations of 557,660 and 433,542 respectively as of 1995.
Region III or Central Luzon, encompassing the provinces of Bulacan,
Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales, has a combined
population of 8.030 million as of May 1, 2001. Environmental Protection SBMA continues to pursue its environmental protection responsibilities. The Authority has an Ecology Center that studies and monitors the preservation of the Subic Bay's natural resources and wildlife. All development projects are required to submit Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies to ensure compliance with existing environmental standards. The Subic Watershed Forest Reserve (SWFR), located at the southern portion of the Zambales Biogeographic Zone, 160 km. by road northwest of Manila, is one of the ten priority sites of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), noted for its high biodiversity and endemism. This lowland dipterocarp forest covers approximately 9,800 hectares, 3,000 hectares of which is closed canopy. The forests were protected from over exploitation for more than 50 years while under the jurisdiction of the Americans during the US Naval Base period. The SWFR lies entirely within the metes and bounds of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ). SBMA has administrative jurisdiction over these protected areas under the authority of Republic Act 7227 of 1992, and in a Memorandum of Agreement signed between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the SBMA. A wide range of habitats are present in the forest due to the terrain, presence of streams, fringing grasslands and other breaks in the canopy. It is possible to draw an imaginary line through the rain forest, running water, grassland and mangrove habitats that blend into the marine seagrass and coral reef habitats. These represent the major habitats of the tropics. The preliminary results of the forest biodiversity survey revealed 745 plant species. Three of which are endangered while four others are potentially threatened. Hence, the urgency of preserving the Subic Forest is highlighted. Ecologically and economically important tree species such as White Lauan, Apitong, Guijo, Palosapis are most dominant in Subic forest. A rattan palm species previously found only in Mt. Arayat was discovered. At the southwest portion of the reserve is a well maintained network of paved roads which links two piers to a complex of 6 groups of earth-covered, concrete ammunition bunkers formerly known as the Naval Magazine. These bunker groups are enclosed in fences. It is linked to the rest of the Freeport Zone by a two-lane road intersected by a narrower road leading to the municipality of Morong, Bataan. This area has been reserved for low-impact, eco and adventure tourism oriented development. The Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium project is taking shape. The Camayan Wharf is now home to Subic Bay Ocean Adventure, the first and the most amazing attraction in the country exposing some of the world's most attractive sea mammals like dolphins, false killer whales and sea lions in their natural habitat. The western side of Grande and Chiquita Islands contains the highest coral cover in the bay with up to 75% of which are living. There are 75 species of fish present in Subic Bay. Important reef fish species comprises 96.25%. The world's rare and endangered Olive Ridley turtle and Hawksbill dwell in Subic Bay. Six species of seagrasses are growing in the marine preserved areas of Triboa and Ilanin Bays. Ecotourism has tremendous potential given the variety of flora and fauna and the presence of streams, waterfalls and trail systems. Ecotour attractions are plentiful in SUBICBAY. Here are some you shouldn't miss: Tourist Activities & Attractions APALIIN TRAIL BAT KINGDOM BAT HIGHWAY BICENTENNIAL PARK CAMACHILE PARK EL KABAYO GRANDE ISLAND HILL 394 JEST (Jungle Environmental Survival
Training) Camp and Butterfly Garden MALAWAAN PIER MANGROVE GRAVEYARD MT. PINATUBO CRATER TREK Pamulaklakin Forest Trails / Pastolan
Aeta Village REDONDO BEACHES SHIPWRECKS SUBIC BAY OCEAN ADVENTURE   
SUBIC BEACHES TRIBOA BAY MANGROVE PARK WATERFRONT BOARDWALK SUBIC BAY'S FLYING FOXES By dispersing the seeds of forest fruits and spreading pollen between the forest flowers they visit, fruit bats maintain and restore forests by aiding in the reproduction of forest plants. Many fruit crops important to people, such as durian, wild banana, and kapok, also rely on fruit bats for their reproduction. Their cute, puppy-like faces add to their appeal. Despite this, fruit bats are heavily hunted, and the loss of their forest homes has made many of these bats endangered with extinction. SUBIC BAY'S BAMBOO BATS They have flat skulls that allow them to easily enter the bamboo holes originally created by chrysomelid beetles. Their suction cup feet make it easy to hang upside-down on the smooth inside of the bamboo. Bamboo bats typically give birth to twins and roost in harems, meaning one mating male with many mating females and all their offspring. Sometimes as many as 40 little bamboo bats may be found roosting together in a single bamboo chamber. These bats emerge from their bamboo hide-away at dusk to feed on insects, especially termite swarms, and by dawn have already returned to their home. So, bamboo bats are best seen in the sky when the sun is setting. (Source WWF Subic)
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