AFAB holds consultation on proposed enterprise leasing policy

The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan held a public consultation on its proposed Policy on Enterprise Leasing at the AFAB Auditorium in the Freeport Area of Bataan on 4 February 2026.

AFAB said the consultation was led by the FAB Enterprise Department–Registration Division, which presented the proposed policy outlining the rules and guidelines governing the lease of AFAB-owned properties.

A total of 50 representatives from FAB Enterprises that directly lease from AFAB, including those with subleasing arrangements, participated in the consultation.

The proposed policy covers applications for lease and sublease, as well as other contract-related matters involving industrial and commercial areas under the Registration Division. A discussion of key provisions was followed by an open forum to address questions and concerns raised by participants.

AFAB said the policy aims to standardize the rules and guidelines for leasing industrial and commercial properties within the Freeport and to strengthen the management of AFAB-owned assets.

AFAB also reported a rise in the number of FAB operational enterprises in 2025, recording a 2.73 percent increase from 293 enterprises in January to 301 by December.

The agency attributed the reduced total number of FAB registered enterprises in 2025 to intensified monitoring by the Registration Division, which resulted in the cancellation of 13 certificates of registration. AFAB said this created opportunities to offer the affected areas to new investors.

Meanwhile, nine registered enterprises were found to be non-operational; one was transferred as a bonded logistics facility; four were found to be operational; and one new enterprise was added but has yet to begin operations.

Committed investments in 2025 increased by 34.35 percent compared with 2024, with new committed investments reaching P24 million in December.

AFAB said export-oriented enterprises posted a positive trade balance in 2025, while total vessel calls reached 828 by year-end, surpassing all annual transactions since 2018 and marking a 620 percent increase.

As of December 2025, leased areas accounted for 87.19 percent of available space, up 4.17 percent from January, indicating continued expansion and utilization of Freeport land resources.

The Bataan Freeport sources 90.04 percent of its power from renewable energy, with the remaining 9.96 percent supplied through the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.