The staff of the Subic Bulletin was
very optimistic for change when SBMA Chairman Garcia and the new board came into
power, but we are still waiting...
So far we have been disappointed to
see:
-
Senior SBMA Administrators entangled in smuggling and a Senate investigation
- Worsened security including a severe spate of burglaries in residential areas
- Locators and residents lumbered with a new, possibly illegal tax called CUSA
- Increased paperwork for investors in violation of the "anti red-tape act", now requiring locators to do 3 times the paperwork for their permits
What we were hoping for was:
-
Cancel the biased and unfair agreement with RP Energy that has no social acceptance
- Negotiation with the National and Local Government for some share of tax revenues
- Repair or replacement of the perimeter fence to secure the Freeport
- Cost reduction campaign in SBMA including the phased and planned reduction of SBMA employees and redeployment where possible into the private sector
- Restructure the loan with the Japanese for the underutilized port facility after all it was their idea.
- Improve the quality of the law enforcement department.
- Reduced red tape and more transparency
We are trying very hard to continue
to be optimistic and supportive Chairman Garcia but you are not giving us much to hold on
to.
At very least Chairman Garcia have the fortitude to cancel the Coal Fired Power
Plant agreemnet completely so the Locators, Residents and local communities can see you have something
to give rather than everything to take?
