Subic, Zambales

Municipality in Zambales, Philippines

This article is about the municipality. For the economic zone and freeport area, see Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone.

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Municipality in Central Luzon, Philippines

Subic

Municipality

Municipality of Subic

Matain, Subic

Flag

Seal

Map of Zambales with Subic highlighted

OpenStreetMap

Subic

Location within the Philippines

Coordinates: 14°52′37″N 120°13′58″E﻿ / ﻿14.8769°N 120.2328°E﻿ / 14.8769; 120.2328
Country| Philippines
Region| Central Luzon
Province| Zambales
District|  1st district
Founded| 1572
Founded by| Juan de Salcedo
Barangays| 16 (see Barangays)
Government

[1]

• Type| Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor| Jonathan John F. Khonghun
• Vice Mayor| Lauro B. Simbol
• Representative| Jefferson F. Khonghun
• Municipal Council|

Members

*   * Elmer S. Tumaca
* Danilo S. Fontelera
* Ruel P. Sarmiento
* Ronnie B. dela Cruz
* Orlando M. Timbol
* Emma A. Quintos
* Gennyfer G. Chantengco
* Osias F. Huerta

• Electorate| 68,402 voters (2025)
Area

[2]

• Total

| 287.16 km2 (110.87 sq mi)
Elevation

| 60 m (200 ft)
Highest elevation

| 557 m (1,827 ft)
Lowest elevation

| 0 m (0 ft)
Population

(2024 census)[3]

• Total

| 116,788
• Density| 410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
• Households

| 28,202
Economy

• Income class| 1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence|

31.29

% (2021)[4]
• Revenue| ₱ 593.3 million (2022)
• Assets| ₱ 840.2 million (2022)
• Expenditure| ₱ 545.7 million (2022)
• Liabilities| ₱ 471.7 million (2022)
Service provider

• Electricity| Zambales 2 Electric Cooperative (ZAMECO 2)
Time zone| UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code|

2209, 2222 (Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone)

PSGC|

0307114000

IDD : area code | +63 (0)47
Native languages| Ilocano
Sambal
Tagalog
Kapampangan
Ambala
Website| subic.gov.ph

Subic, officially the Municipality of Subic (Ilocano: Ili ti Subic; Tagalog: Bayan ng Subic, Kapampangan: Balen ning Subic), is a municipality in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 111,912 people.[5]

## Etymology

[edit]

The native Zambales inhabitants called the area Hubek, which means "head of a plough"; Spanish missionary priests mispronounced the name as Subiq.[6] By the time of the American occupation, "Subiq" was mispronounced as Subig. Eventually, the name reverted to "Subiq", but the letter 'q' was replaced with 'c'.

## History

[edit]

### Spanish colonial era

[edit]

In 1572, Juan de Salcedo, the Mexico-born Spanish conquistador and grandson of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, founded Zambales during his exploration of northern Luzon.[6] Subic was founded in late 1607 by Augustinian friars headed by Rev. Fr. Rodrigo de San Miguel, and the natives in Subic were Christianized under Spanish rule.[7]

In 1884 that declared Subic as "a naval port and the property appertaining there to set aside for naval purposes." Construction of an arsenal and ship repair yard ensued March 8 the following year, as ordered by the new settlers' Naval Commission. During the Philippine Revolution, a fleet led by the Cuban-Filipino Admiral Vicente Catalan seized the naval base at Subic from the Spanish for the First Philippine Republic. Subic Bay's potential as naval station was realized by the Americans. Commodore George Dewey and his men engaged in a battle that destroyed the Spanish Army in 1898, and the Americans took over Subic Bay on December 10, 1899.

### British invasion era

[edit]

In September 1762, the British invaded the Philippines and took over the Spanish main naval base in Manila Bay. This prompted the Spanish military to scout for the next promising naval station. The expedition returned with the good news for the naval command - a natural bounty and deep waters at Subic Bay. King Alfonso XII issued a decree[8]

### American invasion era

[edit]

The Americans designated the Subic Bay area as a repair and supply naval base site in 1901. Two years later, US President Theodore Roosevelt declared 283.27 km2 (109.37 sq mi) of land in Subic as a military reservation area; or more than half of Subic's land area at the time.

### Japanese occupation era

[edit]

Subic, along with the Olongapo area suffered significant damage during World War II and was repurposed by the Imperial Japanese Army as their own base during the Japanese occupation.[9]

### Philippine independence

[edit]

After World War II, Olongapo, a barrio of Subic that forms part of the US Military Reservations in the Subic area, was turned over to the Philippine government. Olongapo was converted to a municipality independent from Subic town through Executive Order No. 366 issued by President Carlos P. Garcia on December 7, 1959.[9]

## Geography

[edit]

Subic is located along the northern coast of Subic Bay. Portions of the town also form part of the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone.

Subic is 66 kilometres (41 mi) from Iba, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Olongapo, and 138 kilometres (86 mi) from Manila.

### Barangays

[edit]

Subic is politically subdivided into 16 barangays, as shown below. [10] Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

* Aningway-Sacatihan
* Asinan (Poblacion)
* Asinan Proper
* Baraca-Camachile (Poblacion)
* Batiawan
* Calapacuan
* Calapandayan (Poblacion)
* Cawag
* Ilwas (Poblacion)
* Mangan-Vaca
* Matain
* Naugsol
* Pamatawan
* San Isidro
* Santo Tomas
* Wawandue (Poblacion)

### Climate

[edit]

Subic has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am). Subic's climate is no different from the other towns in the western part of Luzon where rainy season runs from May to October, while the dry season is from November to April. The wettest month of the year is July with average monthly rainfall more than 755 millimetres (29.7 in) and the driest month is February with average monthly rainfall less than 5 millimetres (0.20 in). The highest ever recorded temperature in the area is 38.8 °C (101.8 °F) and the lowest is 17.9 °C (64.2 °F). The annual average temperature in the city is 27.9 °C (82.2 °F).

Climate data for Subic, Zambales (1992–2010, extremes recorded in Naval Air Station Cubi Point 1994–2012)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 35.2
(95.4)  | 38.0
(100.4)  | 36.5
(97.7)  | 38.2
(100.8)  | 38.8
(101.8)  | 37.7
(99.9)  | 36.2
(97.2)  | 35.0
(95.0)  | 35.7
(96.3)  | 35.3
(95.5)  | 34.7
(94.5)  | 34.4
(93.9)  | 38.8
(101.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 31.2
(88.2)  | 32.1
(89.8)  | 33.5
(92.3)  | 34.5
(94.1)  | 33.1
(91.6)  | 31.7
(89.1)  | 30.9
(87.6)  | 30.4
(86.7)  | 30.7
(87.3)  | 31.6
(88.9)  | 31.7
(89.1)  | 31.0
(87.8)  | 31.9
(89.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | 26.8
(80.2)  | 27.4
(81.3)  | 28.5
(83.3)  | 29.6
(85.3)  | 29.1
(84.4)  | 28.2
(82.8)  | 27.7
(81.9)  | 27.4
(81.3)  | 27.5
(81.5)  | 27.9
(82.2)  | 27.8
(82.0)  | 27.1
(80.8)  | 27.9
(82.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 22.5
(72.5)  | 22.7
(72.9)  | 23.6
(74.5)  | 24.8
(76.6)  | 25.1
(77.2)  | 24.8
(76.6)  | 24.4
(75.9)  | 24.4
(75.9)  | 24.3
(75.7)  | 24.2
(75.6)  | 23.9
(75.0)  | 23.2
(73.8)  | 24.0
(75.2)
Record low °C (°F)  | 17.9
(64.2)  | 18.7
(65.7)  | 19.8
(67.6)  | 21.5
(70.7)  | 21.5
(70.7)  | 19.0
(66.2)  | 20.0
(68.0)  | 21.4
(70.5)  | 21.0
(69.8)  | 20.6
(69.1)  | 20.6
(69.1)  | 18.5
(65.3)  | 17.9
(64.2)
Average rainfall mm (inches)  | 6.0
(0.24)  | 4.2
(0.17)  | 16.1
(0.63)  | 22.5
(0.89)  | 416.8
(16.41)  | 385.7
(15.19)  | 759.7
(29.91)  | 753.5
(29.67)  | 695.8
(27.39)  | 214.5
(8.44)  | 81.9
(3.22)  | 21.9
(0.86)  | 3,378.6
(133.02)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 2  | 1  | 3  | 3  | 12  | 17  | 23  | 24  | 21  | 13  | 8  | 5  | 132
Average relative humidity (%)  | 67  | 66  | 65  | 65  | 73  | 78  | 81  | 81  | 82  | 77  | 73  | 68  | 73
Source: PAGASA[11][12]

## Government

[edit]

Main article: Sangguniang Bayan

### Chief executives

[edit]

Subic Municipal Hall

This is the complete list of municipal leaders such as Mayor and Presidente Municipal since it became a municipality in 1902.[13]

Name  | Term  | Position

|
|

Placido dela Paz  | 1902 – 1904  | Presidente Municipal
Salustiano Ponco  | 1905 – 1908
Nicetas Lesaca  | 1908 – 1910
Jorge Salang  | 1911 – 1913
Jose Orozco Sr.  | 1914 – 1916
Juan Juico  | 1917 – 1919
Esteban Felicitas  | 1920 – 1922  | Municipal Mayor
Pedro del Rosario
Alfredo de Perio Sr.  | 1923 – 1931
Numeriano Flores  | 1932 – 1940
Cecilio Esteban  | 1941 – 1943
Severino Salang  | 1944 – 1946
Alfredo de Perio Jr.
Leopoldo Lauzares  | 1947 – 1948
Jose de Perio Sr.  | 1948 – 1951
Alfredo Afable  | 1952 – 1955
Cecilio Panaligan  | 1956 – November 1959
Dangal Guevara  | June 30, 1960 – 1986
Manuel M. Molina Jr.  | 1986  | OIC Municipal Mayor (1st term)
Segundino Sandoval  | OIC Municipal Mayor
Manuel M. Molina Jr.  | 1986 – June 30, 1998  | Municipal Mayor (2nd term)
Enrique F. Delgado  | 1998  | Municipal Mayor
Leonardo 'Boy' Guevara  | 1998 – June 30, 2001
Jeffrey D. Khonghun  | June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010
Jefferson F. Khonghun  | June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2019
Jonathan John F. Khonghun  | June 30, 2019 – present

## Demographics

[edit]

Population census of SubicYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

1903 | 3,955| —
1918 | 14,159| +8.87%
1939 | 14,923| +0.25%
1948 | 25,223| +6.01%
1960 | 12,985| −5.38%
1970 | 22,266| +5.53%
1975 | 28,139| +4.81%
1980 | 30,340| +1.52%
1990 | 46,929| +4.46%
1995 | 57,099| +3.74%
2000 | 63,019| +2.14%
2007 | 77,118| +2.82%
2010 | 89,724| +5.66%
2015 | 104,771| +3.00%
2020 | 111,912| +1.40%
2024 | 116,788| +1.03%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[14][15][16][17][18]

In the 2020 census, the population of Subic was 111,912 people,[19] with a density of 390 inhabitants per square kilometre or 1,000 inhabitants per square mile.

## Economy

[edit]

Poverty incidence of Subic

2000
25.27

2003
14.65

2006
7.90

2009
11.49

2012
11.69

2015
18.89

2018
10.25

2021
31.29

Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Beach

A part of the town of Subic is within the jurisdiction of the Subic Freeport Zone, which is managed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. The revenue earned by the special economic zone is shared by seven municipalities, including Subic town, and the City of Olongapo.[28]

## Infrastructure

[edit]

### Transportation

[edit]

#### Roads

[edit]

Calapandayan Bridge

The primary road that connects Subic to the other parts of the town is the Olongapo-Bugallon Road. Most of the names of Subic's streets are based on the surnames of prominent residents or names of plants. Most of the roads in Subic are made of concrete and asphalt while others are still made of dirt.

Bypass roads such as the Govic Highway are also commonly used by motorists to travel from Barangay Matain to Barangay Manggahan. The roads are meant to reduce traffic in the town proper and are used by trucks going north of Castillejos and vice versa.[citation needed]

Another main road is the Philseco Road that ends from Barangay Asinan proper down to Seatrium Subic Shipyard (formerly Keppel Subic Shipyard and Philippine Shipyard and Engineering Corporation).[citation needed] The Govic Highway Extension runs from Castillejos down to Hanjin Shipyard and is exclusively used by its workers.[citation needed]

### Public Utilities

[edit]

#### Electricity

[edit]

Electricity services are provided by the cooperative-run Zambales II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ZAMECO II) which covers an area from Subic all the way to Cabangan since 1972.[29]

#### Water

[edit]

Water services are provided by Subic Water District (SWD), not to be confused with Subic Water and Sewerage Company (Subic Water), which is a different water distribution company serving the neighboring city of Olongapo.

## Education

[edit]

### High school

[edit]

Private

* Smart Achievers Academy Subic Incorporated
* College of Subic Montessori
* St. James School
* St. Anthony's School

|  Subic National High School.

Public

* Subic National High School
* Batiawan Integrated School-Main
* Batiawan Integrated School Annex
* Kinabuksan Integrated School Resettlement School Annex III
* Agusuhin Cawag High School- Annex -I
* Cawag High School- Main (Resettlement School)
* Aningway- Sacatihan Integrated School SNHS Annex- VI
* Cabitaugan Integrated School
* Ilwas Integrated School SNHS Annex-V
* Josephine F. Khonghun Special Education Center
* Naugsol Integrated School SNHS Annex- III
* Nagyantok National High School
* Pamatawan Integrated School SNHS Annex- VIII
* Santo Tomas National High School SNHS Annex-I
* San Isidro Integrated School SNHS - Annex IV
* Calapandayan Integrated School SNHS Annex VII

|

### College

[edit]

* College of Subic Montessori
* Best Freeport College
* Metro Subic College
* Kolehiyo ng Subic (Public College)

Most of Private schools are operated by Catholic Institution except for colleges.

## See also

[edit]

* Subic Bay Freeport Zone
* Port of Subic

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Municipality of Subic |  (DILG)
2. ^ "2015 Census of Population, Report No. 3 – Population, Land Area, and Population Density" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. Quezon City, Philippines. August 2016. ISSN 0117-1453. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
3. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
4. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
5. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
6. ^ a b "Municipalities"[usurped]. Zambales Now, Official Website of Zambales. Retrieved on 2012-05.24.
** The year of 1542 in the founding of Subic is a misprint and should be the year 1572 like in Botolan, for Salcedo was born in 1549.
7. ^ "Official Website of Municipality of Subic, Province of Zambales » History of Subic". subic.gov.ph. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
8. ^ an official order issued by a legal authority.
9. ^ a b "History of Subic". Subic Municipal Government. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
10. ^ "Province:". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
11. ^ "Subic, Zambales Climatological Normal Values". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
12. ^ "Cubi Point Subic, Olongapo Climatological Extremes". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
13. ^ Mercado, Lino; Dimalanta; Solomon (1998). Subic : Through the Years. Subic Zambales. pp. 79–80.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
14. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
15. ^ Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
16. ^ Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)" (PDF). Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. National Statistics Office. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
17. ^ Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. National Statistics Office.
18. ^ "Province of". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
19. ^ "2024 Census of Population (POPCEN) Population Counts Declared Official by the President". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
20. ^ "Poverty incidence (PI):". Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
21. ^ "Estimation of Local Poverty in the Philippines" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. November 29, 2005.
22. ^ "2003 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. March 23, 2009.
23. ^ "City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates; 2006 and 2009" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. August 3, 2012.
24. ^ "2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates" (PDF). Philippine Statistics Authority. May 31, 2016.
25. ^ "Municipal and City Level Small Area Poverty Estimates; 2009, 2012 and 2015". Philippine Statistics Authority. July 10, 2019.
26. ^ "PSA Releases the 2018 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. December 15, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
27. ^ "PSA Releases the 2021 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates". Philippine Statistics Authority. April 2, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
28. ^ "LGU shares from SBMA earnings drop to almost 30% due to COVID-19". Rappler. January 28, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
29. ^ ""To provide efficient, reliable, safe and affordable power towards utmost customer satisfaction."".

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Subic, Zambales.

* Subic Profile at PhilAtlas.com
* Official website
* Philippine Standard Geographic Code

Places adjacent to Subic, Zambales

|  | Castillejos / San Marcelino |

|
|

|  |
San Antonio |

Subic

| Floridablanca, Pampanga
|  |
| Subic Bay / Olongapo |

* v
* t
* e

Province of Zambales

Iba (capital)
Olongapo (largest city)

Municipalities|

* Botolan
* Cabangan
* Candelaria
* Castillejos
* Iba
* Masinloc
* Palauig
* San Antonio
* San Felipe
* San Marcelino
* San Narciso
* Santa Cruz
* Subic

Highly urbanized city|

* Olongapo (Administratively independent from the province but grouped under Zambales by the Philippine Statistics Authority.)

Barangays|

See: List of barangays in Zambales

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

*[PSGC]: Philippine Standard Geographic Code
*[OIC]: Officer in Charge
*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate. Executive Order 135 §6 states that for "census years" (years divisible by 10) the reference date would be May 1st, but for all other years, the reference date is to be the "middle of the year". This means that growth rates, although correct, are not necessarily simple year-on-year comparisons.
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template