Businessman sworn in as new SBMA chief

MANILA, Philippines — A businessman with interests in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone has been sworn in as new administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Eduardo Aliño took his oath on Friday before President Marcos as SBMA administrator, replacing Jonathan Tan, who has been appointed undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

Tan took his oath as DILG undersecretary also last Friday.

Aliño is the president and chairman of the S.T.A.R. Group of Companies and chairman of the Subic Bay Yacht Club. The S.T.A.R. Group of Companies is a major player in integrated supply chain services and port operations in the former US naval base.

The new SBMA chief is also the president and chairman of Subic Bay Freeport Grain Terminal Services Inc. and Mega Equipment International Corp.

A former mayor of Pandan, Antique, Tan owns JDT Construction and Supply and is president of JDT Trading.

SBMA is mandated to develop the Subic Special Economic Zone into a “self-sustaining, industrial, commercial, financial and investment center” to create jobs in and around the zone and to attract and promote foreign investments.

It operates and manages the Subic Special Economic Zone as a separate customs territory, ensuring free flow or movement of goods and capital within, into and exported out of Subic Special Economic Zone.

It provides incentives such as tax and duty free importations of raw materials, capital and equipment to local and foreign locators numbering about 1,500.

Aliño’s experience in providing strategic leadership and direction to various enterprises and bringing about successful collaborations with industry partners and stakeholders is seen as a plus factor for his new role as head of the SBMA.

The Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) earlier pointed out the need for the SBMA to “focus more on streamlining its operations (and) promoting growth, increased economic activity and trade.”

The SBMA also has to prioritize its most important mandate – that of generating investments and employment opportunities, the SBFCC said in a statement, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on several business activities at the Freeport.

Aliño graduated from De La Salle University, with a BS mechanical engineering degree.