Newly appointed SBMA Chairman and Administrator Rolen Paulino Sr. show his ID card that he received on his first day of work in the agency.
Paulino Sr. reports as new SBMA chairman
FORMER Subic volunteer and former Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino, Sr., reported for work today as the new head of the agency of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) after being appointed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday.
Paulino, who was among the thousands of historic SBMA volunteers who propelled the Subic Bay Freeport’s economic miracle in 1992, became the eighth SBMA chairman and administrator.
Paulino took his oath of office in Malacañang before Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea also on Tuesday. He replaced Atty. Wilma T. Eisma whose resignation letter dated October 2021 was accepted by the President earlier that day.
The new SBMA chief is expected to usher in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone into normalcy in face of the waning COVID-19 pandemic.
On his first day of work, Paulino met with department managers of the Subic agency, as well as officials of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce – marking his priority as the sustainability of business operations here.
“We need to chart a new course for Subic post-pandemic,” Paulino said on Wednesday. “As we all know, the COVID-19 health crisis also made a deep impact on business and productivity in this Freeport, so a lot of corrective measures need to be in place.”
He added that he would pursue an inclusive policy so that SBMA programs and facilities would benefit more residents in nearby communities.
The first order he did was to ask the SBMA board of directors to waive the P20 entrance fee to Remy Field, a popular sports venue at the Subic Sports Complex here, so that residents, especially athletes and health enthusiasts, can use it freely.
“’Yung konting paglalaro ng mga bata, h’wag na nating singilin pa. Maliit na halaga ang entrance fee, kumpara sa mararamdaman nila na sa kanila ang Subic Bay Freeport,” Paulino explained.
Paulino was first elected mayor of Olongapo City in 2013 and later on won another two successive terms. His son Rolen Jr., who is the incumbent mayor, succeeded him in 2019. Paulino’s wife Cynthia is a member of the SBMA Board of Directors. Ruben A. Veloria
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