SBMA fast-tracks accreditation of Ayala mall merchants

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, 01/17/2012 – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has processed the business application of more than 400 local and international companies wishing to locate at the Ayala Harbor Point mall here by conducting a one-day, one-stop business processing designed to fast-track the accreditation of the new business locators.

“This is a first time in SBMA that we have put together all permit-issuing SBMA departments in a business processing event to simplify the process,” SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said.

“We hope that we could encourage more merchants to invest here when they see how easy it is for businesses to set up shop in Subic,” Garcia added.

The one-stop registration process was introduced after an “unprecedented volume” of non-Subic Bay Freeport (SBF) enterprise firms signified intention to sub-lease commercial spaces at the Harbor Point Mall, which is now under construction at the central business district of this free port.

Harbor Point marketing manager Argee Gomez said Ayala is about to finish the basic structure of the mall and is now allowing merchants to start the development and provisioning of their stalls.

“This will, with the full support and cooperation of the SBMA, help fast-track the construction of the Harbour Point mall and allow us to meet the target operation date,” he added.

Among the requirements that each merchant should complete before operating a business in Subic are: business registration from the Business & Investment Department – Leisure; accreditation permit intended for suppliers, contractors or service providers from the Accreditation Department; building permit from the Building Permit & Safety Department; environmental permit from the Ecology Department; gate passes for employees from the Office Services Department; sanitary clearance from the Public Health & Safety Department; and vehicle passes from the Transportation & Communication Department.

After going through said requirements, the business locator then pays all fees to the SBMA Treasury Department before the permits would be released by the issuing departments.

During the one-day, one-stop accreditation process, the SBMA’s Management Information Systems Department and Tourism Department also provided support to smoothen the processing flow, noted Chairman Garcia.

In view of the accreditation of its sub-leases, Harbor Point expects to open up more than 2,000 job opportunities, initially, for residents of the Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City, and the provinces of Zambales and Bataan.

Gomez said a wide range of jobs will be available – store managers, human resource personnel, management trainees, supervisors, merchandisers, store marketing officers, accounting staff, customer service representatives, programmers, sales clerks, service crew, stockmen, kitchen staff, bartenders, security guards, maintenance personnel, massage therapist, cashiers, warehousemen, and janitors, to name a few.

Because of this, the company will be holding a job fair, dubbed as “Careers at Harbor Point,” on January 26 and 27, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Subic Bay Gym.

Gomez also explained that Harbor Point mall, which is fully owned by Ayala Land Inc., would feature open-air spaces, a garden, an active zone, aside from facilities where the public can shop, dine and relax.

It will also have international and local high-end stores, as well as a transport terminal with lounges and comfort rooms, and ample parking spaces for vehicles.

Gomez added that Ayala malls all over the country are named differently from each other to highlight the distinct characteristic of the place where they are built. As such, the Ayala mall here was named Harbor Point because of Subic’s bayside location. (30)