COTABATO CITY – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is bidding to replicate in its infant free port facility the “miracle” achieved by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), following the recent visit to the former American military base of concerned officials from the ARMM government.

ARMM acting Gov. Ansaruddin Alonto-Adiong, leading a 20-man ARMM team, visited the SBMA last week to learn about the successful transformation of the former military base into a special economic zone.

The ARMM delegation has sought the assistance of the SBMA to provide it insights on the premier free port’s operations as the Adiong administration is set to launch massive efforts to establish a replica in Narangay Polloc, Parang, Maguindanao.

“We were overwhelmed in terms of the organization and the development,” said David Ali, executive director of the ARMM Official Development Assistance Office.

“Before we came (to SBMA), we had zero knowledge on how to establish our own free port. We made the visit to gather information on how to start the process, and yet we now have some knowledge on long-term operations,” Ali added.

He said ARMM officials have agreed to make Subic the model for the Polloc Port in Parang in terms of management and structure.

It can be recalled that Adiong declared on March 15 the development of the port of Polloc as a free port, and of the host village of Polloc as a special economic zone.

SBMA officials led by Chairman Feliciano Salonga and Administrator Armand Arreza welcomed and briefed the ARMM delegation on the administrative and technical requirements in the operation and management of a free port, and the establishment of a one-stop-shop center, as well as marketing strategies.