Subic Bay, Zambales — Once a dormant 310-hectare facility after the 2019 bankruptcy of Hanjin Heavy Industries, the site now known as Agila Subic Compass has undergone a dramatic transformation. In just three years, Agila Subic has emerged as a thriving, multi-use industrial complex poised to become a regional leader in shipbuilding, logistics, and subsea infrastructure.
Since its revitalization in 2022 by Cerberus Capital Management, a U.S.-based global alternative investment firm, Agila Subic has attracted major global and national tenants, including:
Philippine Navy, which has established a major operational base offering billeting, training, and ship maintenance;
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Philippines, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders, now utilizing the facility for shipbuilding, repair, and offshore wind platform construction;
Subcom, a global leader in subsea fiber optic cables, which has made Agila its primary storage and cabling depot in Asia; and
V2X, an NYSE-listed logistics company utilizing the site for warehousing and storage operations.
Agila Subic is now bustling with activity, with most of its space leased and a projected 4,000 jobs to be created by the end of 2025. By 2027, that figure is expected to rise to 10,000 jobs, including both direct employment and supply chain-related roles. Total investments in the site are anticipated to approach USD 1 billion, underscoring its strategic importance in the Asia-Pacific region.
More than just a commercial revival, Agila Subic is catalyzing local economic growth — sparking the rise of new restaurants, shops, and small businesses in surrounding communities. It is also empowering Filipino engineers, skilled workers, and local service providers, reinvigorating industrial capabilities in Zambales and beyond.
Leading this transformation is General Manager Mark Millan, a native of Zambales and former Philippine Navy officer. Under his leadership, Agila Subic showcases Filipino excellence in international collaboration and industrial development.
“When we started operations in 2022, we committed to transforming this facility into an economically viable site that would attract world-class locators and create thousands of jobs for Subic Bay and its surrounding areas,” said Millan. “We are proud to be on track in achieving that vision in just three years — thanks to strong partnerships and the support of the Philippine government.”
With its robust growth trajectory, strategic location, and high-value tenants, Agila Subic is fast becoming a vital hub for maritime, logistics, and industrial innovation in the Asia-Pacific region — and a beacon of economic resurgence for the Philippines.