Gordon obstructing Subic port project — Payumo

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Felicito Payumo accused yesterday Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon of "obstructing" Subic’s ambitious port development project and endangering foreign financing for the project.

According to Payumo, Gordon, through his people in the Olongapo City Hall, are raising several objections to the project which has already been approved and has secured financing from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). "Gordon’s camp are raising environmental concerns intended to delay, if not stop the project," Payumo said.

According to Payumo, Gordon has also been meddling with the development plans of the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD) supposedly in his capacity as Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD).

As such, Payumo said, Gordon’s posturings are a "thinly veiled attempt to obstruct the alliance."

Gordon’s people, Payumo said, have been objecting to the location of the new port being built beside the existing Subic International Airport.

Gordon’s camp want the project to be built instead at the old Naval Supply Depot which had earlier been rejected by JBIC as being too shallow and lacks the maneuverability needed by container ships.

Payumo warned that if Gordon is able to derail the project and have the port relocated, JBIC may withhold financing for the project.

The construction of the new port in Subic, Payumo insists, is vital to the future viability of Subic especially since it faces formidable competition from China, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia which are all rushing to construct and expand their own existing port facilities.