Sen. Gordon's reaction to “Splitting top Subic positions a mistake"
To the Point: Emil Jurado
Manila Standard Today
I received a copy of a letter by Senator Dick Gordon to Standard Today in reaction to my column about the mistake of President Arroyo of appointing two different people to assume the role of chairman and administrator (“Splitting top Subic positions a mistake, Aug. 9 issue, Standard Today).
I am glad that Gordon, whom I must admit was primarily responsible for what the Subic Freeport is today, and with his volunteers has succeeded in making the free port a lynchpin of economic development, agrees with me that, as mandated by Republic Act 7227, Section 13d, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority charter provides that “the President shall appoint a professional manager as administrator of the Subic Authority with a compensation to be determined by the board subject to the approval of the secretary of budget, who shall be the ex-officio chairman of the board and who shall serve as the chief executive of the Subic Authority.”
Thus, when Malacañang split the two top positions of the Subic Freeport through an executive order with Feliciano Salonga as chairman and Armando Arreza as administrator, it not only violated the Subic Authority’s charter, but also created a problem since the two officials were perceived to be protégés of two warring political lords of Zambales.
The result has been unfortunate and bad for the Subic Freeport, with Salonga and Arreza at frequent odds with each other, to the prejudice and detriment of the free port’s investors and locators. The ultimate effect is not only bad for the image of Subic Bay, but the Palace’s as well. Blame is being heaped on Malacañang as a result.
Gordon, however, denies claims that he was behind the appointment of Arreza, his former tourism department undersecretary. He said he did not lobby for Arreza’s appointment, but instead recommended his former executive assistant at Subic, lawyer Rodolfo Reyes, who was a former administrator of Senator Enrile’s Cagayan Economic Zone Authority at Fort Irene. I know for a fact that Reyes is Gordon’s man and a very qualified administrator who worked with him at the free port.
The political affiliation of Salonga and Arreza is actually beside the point. What is important is that RA 7227 must be observed by having just one person assume the role of both chairman/administrator of the free port. It’s a legal point that will maintain the credibility of Subic’s authority.
I am glad that Gordon, whom I must admit was primarily responsible for what the Subic Freeport is today, and with his volunteers has succeeded in making the free port a lynchpin of economic development, agrees with me that, as mandated by Republic Act 7227, Section 13d, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority charter provides that “the President shall appoint a professional manager as administrator of the Subic Authority with a compensation to be determined by the board subject to the approval of the secretary of budget, who shall be the ex-officio chairman of the board and who shall serve as the chief executive of the Subic Authority.”
Thus, when Malacañang split the two top positions of the Subic Freeport through an executive order with Feliciano Salonga as chairman and Armando Arreza as administrator, it not only violated the Subic Authority’s charter, but also created a problem since the two officials were perceived to be protégés of two warring political lords of Zambales.
The result has been unfortunate and bad for the Subic Freeport, with Salonga and Arreza at frequent odds with each other, to the prejudice and detriment of the free port’s investors and locators. The ultimate effect is not only bad for the image of Subic Bay, but the Palace’s as well. Blame is being heaped on Malacañang as a result.
Gordon, however, denies claims that he was behind the appointment of Arreza, his former tourism department undersecretary. He said he did not lobby for Arreza’s appointment, but instead recommended his former executive assistant at Subic, lawyer Rodolfo Reyes, who was a former administrator of Senator Enrile’s Cagayan Economic Zone Authority at Fort Irene. I know for a fact that Reyes is Gordon’s man and a very qualified administrator who worked with him at the free port.
The political affiliation of Salonga and Arreza is actually beside the point. What is important is that RA 7227 must be observed by having just one person assume the role of both chairman/administrator of the free port. It’s a legal point that will maintain the credibility of Subic’s authority.
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
7:19 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home