The SBMA has a new chairman and administrator, Eduardo Jose Aliño, and its locators are already jubilant.
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has removed former SBMA chairman and administrator Jonathan Tan and replaced him with businessman Eduardo Jose L. Alino to run this sprawling … square kilometer Freeport.
Already, the Freeport locators in Subic are very happy.
This is because on the first day of his assumption to office, CHAD Alino, himself a former locator involved in the logistics and yatchting businesses, promised them that his predecessor’s initiative of invalidating contracts of locators with millions of pesos worth of debts to the Authority and not complying with the terms of their leases will be suspended, if not scrapped.
This announcement was made at the new chairman’s first press conference following the changing of the guard at SBMA.
Give locators a chance
Citing his experience as a locator himself who invested so much money in his business, Aliño expressed his desire to give the locators and investors who are now experiencing difficulties in paying their financial obligations to SBMA, a chance to recover.
He explained that these businessmen had invested so much money and it would be so painful to lose the business they dreamed of here in Subic, and giving them a chance to recover is tantamount to giving them a new lease on life.
The successful businessman and investor— Eduardo Jose L. Aliño— was welcomed by officers and employees of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) as he attended the turnover ceremony on Monday in front of the SBMA Administration office.
In his first public address as head of agency, Aliño narrated that when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr offered him the position in SBMA, he had some apprehensions. He had to consult his family and think it over for some time.
Then he said yes to the President and First Lady. “How can I say no to your President?” he said. And added, “because if you always refuse to help our leaders, who else would? So, I said yes.”
He accepted the position offered by the President to actually give back all the help that SBMA people had showed him and his business for the past 20 years or so.
Local SBMA businessman
Aliño was the former president and chairman at Subic Bay Freeport Grain Terminal Services Inc. and Mega Equipment International Corp. which is now being managed by one of his sons.
“It is because of you, rather than us, that made our terminal to what it is right now. Hindi po namin magagawa ang lahat ng ito kung wala ang tulong ninyo (We won’t be able to reach this success without your help)”, he said.
Mr. Aliño also leads the S.T.A.R. Group of Companies, and chairs the Subic Bay Yacht. Addressing the employees of SBMA, the new administrator and chairman assured to implement fairness and honesty to serve the people, while asking for their support.
“I promise you that I would be fair. I promise you to be honest,” he said. Adding that he has no agenda other than to help and to serve SBMA as a gesture of love of country, for God and for the President.
Vast potentials
Meanwhile, during his first press conference as Chairman and Administrator of SBMA, Aliño noted the vast potentials of Subic which should be given priority for development.
“We have so many potentials here in Subic and we may be putting more hotels, more infra projects to attract more investors.”
He said that with the help of his (management) team they will study everything to determine what things are lacking and how to achieve growth in the Freeport.
He also congratulated his predecessor former SBMA chairman and administrator Jonathan Tan who he said was promoted to a higher position in the government as undersecretary in the Department of Internal and Local Government (DILG).
Former Pandan, Antique mayor Tan was appointed to SBMA on April 28, 2023.
Photo: Newly appointed SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Aliño (right) receiving the SBMA flag from SBMA Director Raul Marcelo during the flag and turn-over ceremony held in front of the SBMA Administration Building on Monday. (Randy V. Datu)
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