Requesting Pres. Aquino to Reconstitute the SBMA Board of Directors

First off, let me take this opportunity to wish everybody a happy and prosperous 2011.

Back to business. The recent letter of the Chamber to President Noynoy Aquino attracted a lot of media attention and actually landed on some newspapers including the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Not that we are asking for something radical or unreasonable, we just want business inside the Subic Bay Freeport to continue to function without lengthy interruptions.

At the moment, the Chamber is helping out locators by bringing issues up to the SBMA one at a time. Fortunately, the SBMA authorities, particularly Administrator Armand Arreza, have been very accommodating in trying to solve the problems, even with only stopgap measures for some. This, however, cannot continue for long.

As it is, many of us are still in survival mode due to the recent, and arguably over, global financial crisis. It would not help any if we are to endure another burden on our backs just as we are trying to haul ourselves up from a prone, knocked down, position. President Aquino is well intended, I am quite sure. With the many issues the country is facing, I am also pretty certain that we are nowhere near the top of presidential actionable items. So perhaps a little nudge or a tug on his shirt would give us a bit of attention. So here’s the letter.

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PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
Malacañang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila, NCR 1005, Philippines

Subj: SBMA Board of Directors

Dear President Aquino,

The Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) respectfully requests that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority SBMA) Board of Directors be reconstituted, even on a temporary basis, to allow important Board decisions be acted upon especially on matters of urgent concern to existing and potential investors in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

It has been close to four months since the issuance of Executive Order No. 2 which revoked “midnight appointments” and affected the majority of the SBMA Board of Directors positions. Important matters requiring SBMA Board approval are all on pending status therefore. This is putting investments inside the Subic Bay Freeport on a stand still.

While we respect the order, we are also aware that it is currently being challenged in the court of law. However, absent a temporary restraining order (TRO), a reconstitution of a temporary Board of Directors, at least until after a final decision is made by the courts, should be an option worth pursuing. This is more importantly so if it meant additional investments and, therefore, additional jobs for our countrymen.

The SBFCC has always tried to be politically neutral and will, therefore, not endorse anybody for a SBMA Board of Directors position. We hope, however, that the law be followed.

Republic Act 7227, an important and visionary law created and approved during the term of the late President Corazon Aquino, under Section 13(c), stated that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Board of Directors shall be composed of fifteen (15) members, to wit:

1. Representatives of the local government units that concur to join the Subic Special Economic Zone;
2. Two (2) representatives from the National Government;
3. Five (5) representatives from the private sector coming from the present naval stations, public works center, ship repair facility, naval supply depot and naval air stations; and
4. The remaining balance to complete the Board shall be composed to representatives from the business and investment sectors.

The composition of the previous SBMA Board of Directors was not in compliance with Sec 13(c) sub (3) and (4) of the aforementioned law. We sincerely hope the next one will be.

We trust that our request will be given consideration and we anticipate hearing from your good office soon.

Yours truly,

[signed]

Prof. DANNY J. PIANO
SBFCC President

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Hopefully, something will happen soon; preferably, before the year is over. Far-fetched but the recent P740 million grand lotto winner must have the same thoughts when he made the bet. It’s the holiday season after all and during this time of the year, people just feel lucky. I do, too... as I did when I made a bet on the lotto. Obviously, I did not win. Go figure.