Senate greenlights SBMA projects fund

Zubiri said that the Senate is in the process of amending the CREATE law and give back the powers to ecozones, which is now a priority measure of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Senate has approved the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s proposed budget of P681 million for the fiscal year of 2024 during a plenary session at the Senate of the Philippines last Tuesday.

The proposed budget of P681,010,000 for fiscal year of 2024 sponsored by Senator JV Ejercito was approved by the Senate during Plenary Session 30 led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

According to Ejercito, the recommended appropriations for the SBMA for the fiscal year 2024 is P681,010,000 will focus primarily on the rehabilitation of the Subic Bay Freeport and its facilities, and will fund two continuing projects, mostly road and infrastructure projects.

Minority Floor Leader Senator Koko Pimentel gave his nod at the said appropriations, citing that he was about to post some questions regarding the said budget.

“Upon looking at the amount, which is a reasonable amount of subsidy being requested by the agency, and the sponsor explaining where it will go, plus the fact that the chairman of the SBMA is such an amiable person, a former mayor, so he is competent to run the Freeport zone,” Pimentel said.

He also disclosed that SBMA chairman and administrator Jonathan D. Tan told him his plans on how to fight smuggling “to the extent of his power” because he is not the customs authority, but a Freeport authority, citing that the Senate should be clear on the distinction on the two agencies’ responsibilities.

“So I decided I would no longer ask questions Mr. President so I think we can now approve the budget of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority,” Pimentel said.

Senator Joel Villanueva, meantime, moved to “close the period of interpolations and debate, and consider the budget of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to be deemed submitted for the body’s consideration.”

Meanwhile, Zubiri said that the Senate is in the process of amending the CREATE law and give back the powers to ecozones, which is now a priority measure of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.