SBMA wins big at BIR’s SBFZ Taxpayer’s Appreciation Day 2026
Subic Bay Freeport – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) won big at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) Taxpayer’s Appreciation Day 2026 by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) held at the Travelers Hotel in this Freeport on 11 November 2026.
With the theme “Partners in Progress: Building a Fair and Transparent Freeport,” the event aimed to honor the taxpayers inside the Freeport, including government agencies who have continued to pay taxes diligently and help build a nation.
The SBMA won in the Highest Growth in Tax Payments Award, Top Income Tax Payment Contributor Award, Top VAT and VAT on Local Sales Payment Contributor Award, and Top Witholding Tax-Compensation Payment Contributor Award.
BIR Revenue Region No. 4 (RR4) Central Luzon Regional Director Saridopen Bantog, BIR RR4 Central Luzon Assistant Regional Director Clea Marie Pimentel, and Revenue District Office No. 019 Revenue District Officer (RDO) Sohailey Pandapatan awarded the citation to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño.
In his keynote message, Aliño said “From 1994 to September this year, the Freeport has contributed P49.67 billion in collections to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Think about what that money became: roads, classrooms, hospital beds, the salaries of public servants.”
“Behind every peso is a locator who declared honestly and an invoice that was issued correctly. Paying your taxes honestly says you believe in this country,” he added.
The BIR also awarded notable investors inside the Subic Bay Freeport, including: Agila Subic; HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Philippines, Inc.; Vectrus Subic Corporation; Central Asia Development Pacific Inc.; Subic Duty Free Shop Inc.; Subic Bay Texas Joe’s Inc.; and Subic Network Solutions.
Taxpayer’s Appreciation Day (and related taxpayer recognition events) are held by tax authorities like the Bureau of Internal Revenue Philippines and local Revenue District Offices (such as RDO No. 019 Subic) to honor law-abiding contributors, top taxpayers, and partners in nation-building.
The award ceremony aims to express gratitude to individual, corporate, and institutional taxpayers whose contributions fund public services, infrastructure, and economic development.