SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) will continue with its debt-collection program as part of the administration’s thrust on good governance even if it means stepping on the toes of some well-connected business owners here.
SBMA Director Brian H. Gordon said SBMA officials will not back down from their commitment to protect government interest by going after overdue accounts, particularly the P100-million debt owed by the Manila Times School of Journalism.
He lamented that SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma is being attacked in the media because of her administration’s policy to collect outstanding debts.
“We support Chairman Amy Eisma in this fight,” Gordon declared. “For the first time, the SBMA is going after bad debts because we have a leader who is backing us up.”
“Now they are saying that more media salvo against the SBMA will be coming. But I say, bring it on. We’re just doing our job,” he added.
The SBMA repossessed early last month two facilities leased out to Manila Times companies because of outstanding obligations.
SBMA said the Manila Times School of Journalism Inc., which leased the George Dewey Complex at the Subic Gateway area, owed a total of P60.28 million in overdue rentals and service fees as of July 4, and has also failed to implement the proposed development plan.
Meanwhile, the Manila Times College of Subic Inc., formerly the George Dewey Medical College Inc., which leased the Cubi Hospital Complex, had outstanding accounts of $543,552.10 and P21.04 million as of July 31, according to SBMA records. These were for unpaid assignment share, labor fees, medical fees, lease rentals and service fees.
Manila Times Chairman Dante A. Ang, however, had disputed the SBMA billings in an August 22 opinion piece on his newspaper. In subsequent issues, Ang also mocked Eisma for “panicking” over an Ombudsman complaint and accused her of abuse of authority over SBMA employees.
Gordon said that while Ang disputed SBMA’s claims, the Manila Times owner met with the SBMA board to discuss the outstanding accounts, but had offered to pay only a total of P6 million.
“He wanted us to forget about the rest,” Gordon said.