pn: Erap commends Payumo on exemplary performance ....
Balita News
in Subic
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, April 10(PNA) - President Joseph "Erap"
Ejercito Estrada commended Saturday Chairman Felicito Payumo of the
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for restoring this freeport as
the country's premier investment site, leading to the infusion of P5
billion in new investments and the creation of 6,000 new jobs since last
September.
In his radio-TV program JEEP ni Erap: Ang Pasada ng Pangulo, the
President said he is satisfied with Payumo not only in improving Subic's
image and viability as an investment haven, but also in cracking down
against smuggling at the freeport.
"Kaya binabati ko ang ating bagong chairman, eh talagang medyo may
kahigpitan, dahil doon sa record, doon sa anim na taong nakaraan eh
walang nahuhuling smuggling diyan (Thats why Id like to congratulate our
new chairman. He has been a bit strict, compared to the previous six
years when no incident of smuggling had been detected)," Mr. Estrada
said on the program aired live from the Subic Bay Yacht Club here.
JEEP ni Erap is aired over dzMM, the Bureau of Broadcast
Services-Radyo ng Bayan, the Sarimanok News Network and the People's
Television Network, Inc.(PTV-4).
Payumo, who also guested on the program, said that since he took
over as SBMA chief last Sept. 1, 35 major investors have entered Subic
with a total investment of P5 billion. Not a single investor has left
the freeport, he added.
"Parang isang bilyon bawat buwan mula noong Sept. 1 at iyan ay
magbibigay ng anim na libong bagong jobs (This means about P1 billion in
investments each month since Sept. 1 and this has generated 6,000 new
jobs)," he said.
The SBMA chief said of the 6,000 new jobs, 4,100 were generated by
investments in the freeport from January to March this year. Of the
4,100 job opportunities, about 54 percent were generated in Olongapo
City, 20 percent in Bataan and 17 percent in Zambales.
He said former investors in Subic have also renewed their contracts
worth a total of P25 billion. (MORE)
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Subic Bay Freeport - Erap Commends - 2
In a press conference later at the Subic Bay Yacht Club, the
President reiterated that he is completely satisfied with Payumo's
performance as SBMA chief.
"Maganda naman. Subic is clean, maraming foreign investments na
dumadating (Its good. Subic is clean and many foreign investments are
coming in)," the President said of Payumo's leadership.
Mr. Estrada said that on a scale of 1 to 10, he would rate Payumo's
performance in Subic an eight.
Payumo took over SBMA last September, following a Supreme Court
decision upholding his appointment and the Presidents directive removing
the former SBMA chairman Richard Gordon.
When asked whether he was willing to appoint Gordon as an adviser,
the President said: "Why not? If there is a position where we can make
use of his expertise, why not? He can be my consultant on Subic affairs
so that Tong Payumo and Dick Gordon can get together."
Mr. Estrada said he and Gordon used to be good friends, "and he can
be a good friend again."
Earlier, on JEEP ni Erap, the President doused cold water on
speculations that he would appoint former Executive Secretary Ruben
Torres, a defeated senatorial candidate who ran under his ticket in the
1992 elections, to replace Payumo as SBMA chief.
"Alam ninyo, ang Pangulo ang nagpapalit at naga-appoint. Eh, ni sa
panaginip, hindi ko napanaginipan ang pangalan ni Ruben Torres (The
President replaces and appoints. But even in my dreams, I haven't dreamt
of the name of Ruben Torres)," he said.(PNA) rgc /OPS/utb
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