Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
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The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is the operating and implementing arm of the Government of the Philippines for the development the 262 square mile (670 square kilometer) area of Subic Bay Freeport (SBF) or what was the former US Naval facility in Subic Bay into a self-sustaining tourism, industrial, commercial, financial, and investment center to generate employment opportunities .
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[edit] History
On March 13, 1992, Philippine Congress passed Republic Act 7227 known as the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, creating the Subic Bay Freeport in anticipation of the pullout of the US naval base facilities. Section 13 of RA 2772 created the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). Mayor Richard Gordon, then the mayor of Olongapo, became the first SBMA chairman.[1]
Mayor Gordon took over the facility when the last U.S. Navy helicopter carrier USS Belleau Wood sailed out of Subic Bay in November 24, 1992 and started the transformation of a former military facility into a freeport like Hong Kong and Singapore. During its fourth anniversary in November 24, 1996, Subic Bay hosted the leaders of 18 economies during the 4th APEC Leaders' Summit.
Richard Gordon was SBMA chairman until 1998 when replaced by Felicito Payumo. In 2005, Payumo was replace by Feliciano G. Salonga as SBMA chairman.[2] Exports had averaged a billion dollars since 1999, jobs generated reached more than 60,000 which was twice the highest number of jobs available when Subic Bay was still a US naval base.[1]
[edit] See also
- Subic Bay Freeport Zone (formerly U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay)
- Subic Bay International Airport (formerly Naval Air Station Cubi Point)
- Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (formerly Clark Air Base)
[edit] References
- ^ a b The Manila Times Internet Edition | SPECIAL REPORT > Gordon-Payumo row explodes
- ^ SBMA officials welcomed as rain soaks Subic rites
