Newly appointed chairman of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Martin Diño has pledged to make Subic the best freeport in Asia as he formally assumed his post on September 3.
During the turnover ceremonies, Diño formally accepted the chairmanship from outgoing Roberto Garcia, who had headed SBMA since 2011. Diño will serve until June 30, 2022.
He was joined by his transition team, members from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), and son Marvin Diño, who will serve as his chief of staff.
In his acceptance speech, Diño lauded the accomplishments of officials and employees of SBMA headed by Garcia, noting that they successfully implemented a financial turnaround for the agency.
Diño also mentioned that Duterte plans to transfer to Subic half of the transshipment activities in Manila’s South and North harbors to help decongest the port and streets of Metro Manila and to maximize Subic’s port capacity.
“I will work hard to make the best of it,” he said, adding that he envisions a healthier financial status and a more business-friendly environment at Subic.
“Our sole objective is to make Subic the best freeport in Asia,” Diño said.
“Chairman Garcia has already paved the way for Subic towards becoming the number one freeport in Asia; it’s our turn to make that happen,” he added.
The former barangay (village) chairman and chairman of VACC also said that while he has no degree in business or recognition from financial institutions, he has a direct line to President Rodrigo Duterte and that he intends to use this to further develop Subic. Diño was a former presidential aspirant in the last national elections who gave way to then Davao City mayor Duterte to represent PDP-Laban in the run for presidency.
He said that when he was offered the position of SBMA chairman, Duterte asked him to make Subic more attractive to investments and to develop the freeport further.
Diño also mentioned that Duterte plans to transfer to Subic half of the transshipment activities in Manila’s South and North harbors to help decongest the port and streets of Metro Manila and to maximize Subic’s port capacity.
Meanwhile, outgoing chairman in his turnover speech Garcia highlighted his administration’s accomplishments that made Subic the most progressive freeport in the country as well as the top tourist destination in Central Luzon and the top fourth destination nationwide.
Garcia noted that under his administration, the revenue collection of SBMA jumped from P1.39 billion in 2011 to P2.75 billion in 2015, while total available cash increased from P595 million in 2011 to P2.75 billion 2015.
“These accomplishments had made SBMA the 11th among government-owned and -controlled corporations in terms of dividends remitted to the national government last year,” he said.
