Splitting top Subic positions a mistake

To the Point by Emil Jurado

Manila Standard Today

When Malacañang split the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority leadership between the chairman and the administrator, I stated that it was a big mistake. It was a clear violation of the authority’s Charter, which specifically provides that the chairman and administrator should be one and the same person.

It’s for this reason that Senator Dick Gordon was both chairman and administrator of the authority, and the rationale behind it was to have smooth and effective policy directions and management. When former Bataan Rep. Felicito Payumo assumed leadership of the SBMA, he was also both chairman and administrator.

Also, when Mrs. Arroyo named former Ayala Land executive Francisco Licuanan SBMA chairman and Alfredo Antonio as administrator, splitting functions and operations in the process, they both decided to quit. And the reason has always been the overlapping of functions leading to the question: Who’s the boss? It was a pity because Licuanan had big plans for both Subic and Clark.

Now, there’s a leadership tug-of-war between Feliciano Salonga as chairman and Armand Arreza as administrator. Locators and investors in Subic are confused because of the continuous tug-of-war between Salonga, a Vic Magsaysay protégé, and Arreza, a Dick Gordon man. This is where the dirty hand of politics comes in, all to the detriment of Subic’s authority.

Thus, unless the President names one person as chairman/administrator in compliance with Republic Act 7227, otherwise known as the SBMA Charter. Appointing two heads will only disrupt whatever good plans there are for the free port. In an attempt to please warring political lords in Zambales and Olongapo over control of SBMA, Malacañang has created a bigger problem. What did they say about too many cooks?

Recall that one time, the people of Salonga and Arreza almost had a shootout when they quarreled over who should stay at the Admiral’s House, which used to be occupied by Payumo. It’s bad enough that papers are not moving at the free port and the investors and locators are complaining. It’s time the President takes a second look at Executive Order 340, which split the chairmanship and administrator positions.

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Another monkey wrench that’s becoming a big headache for investors and locators at the free port is the Bases Conversion Development Authority, which should, for all intents and purposes, just have oversight functions with regard to the free port. Instead of simply coordinating with the SBMA on policies, the BCDA often interferes in the operations of the free port.

This adds confusion to an already volatile SBMA management with two bosses at the free port. Yes, investors and locators still go to Subic. But, soon enough, they will find to their dismay the problem of having too many people dipping their hands in the functions and management of Subic’s authorities.

The fight between Salonga, Arreza and the BCDA gets worse with everybody trying to ostracize each other for control of the free port. Malacañang must do something to restore faith and confidence in Subic, which is fast becoming a battleground of political warlords. And with an outsider like BCDA trying to dip its dirty finger into the free port, it gets even worse.