A bill has been filed in the House of Representatives strengthening the administration and operational governance of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) by amending provisions of Republic Act No. 7227.
At the same time, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, principal author of House Bill 530, appealed to fellow legislators to support her bill which aims to revitalize the bases conversion development, amending for the purpose RA No. 7227, otherwise known as the “Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992,” as amended.
Roman, chairperson of the House committee on women and gender equality, said it is high time to incorporate provisions to professionalize the SBMA Board of Directors and also to ensure and strengthen the public safety and security of the free-port zone.
In her proposed measure, amendments were introduced to improve revenue collection and thereby increasing the shares of the Local Government Units (LGU) affected and the share of the national government.
Reallocation formulas as to the sharing received by the Province of Bataan and Pampanga from the two percent tax on gross income from all business enterprises within the free-port zone were introduced in her bill.
The bill contains sections designating additional seats to the Board of Directors of the SBMA of Local Government Units (LGU) and from Indigenous Peoples residing within Subic Bay Freeport Zone were incorporated.
Roman said amendments were taken into consideration during the 17th Congress on the basis of reaffirming the powers granted to the SBMA by RA 7227, as amended.