Subic Bay Freeport will become the staging area for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) for humanitarian aid and disaster relief as it opens a warehouse facility at the Naval Supply Depot on Tuesday.

US Marine Corps Col. Luke Watson led the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the warehouse, which will be used by the USMC for humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations.

Watson, commanding officer of Blount Island Command, said the site will enable the USMC to preposition equipment for humanitarian aid and disaster relief to be utilized in the Indo-Pacific region.

He added that the USMC has supplies prepositioned worldwide, both ashore and afloat. “So this is one of our ashore sites for humanitarian aid and disaster relief. No ammunition — just motor transportation, communication, and engineering,” Watson explained.

Watson met with SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Aliño on Monday to discuss port operations, highlighting the need for efficiencies to support a sustainable logistics node.

Blount Island Command plans to stage humanitarian aid and disaster relief equipment for the Indo-Pacific region. As part of the Marine Corps’ global prepositioning network, the ashore program will include engineering, communications, and motor transportation assets.

Aliño expressed his full support for the transportation of equipment to Subic Bay Freeport. “This is a great stride for the Subic Bay Freeport in providing assistance to foreign allies in their thrust to provide humanitarian aid and relief assistance in the Indo-Pacific Region," he said.

He noted that Subic Bay Freeport is one of the most strategic areas for deploying aid across the Indo-Pacific region, citing its role as a logistics hub for the maritime and aviation industries in the country.

Blount Island Command, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is the hub for Marine Corps prepositioning programs, including afloat squadrons and ashore sites.