CLARK FREEPORT The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently celebrated its 30th founding anniversary honoring the men and women who have worked hard to make the agency what it is today, a self-sustaining government agency.
During the all-employee anniversary program, Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino recalled the time when volunteers started rebuilding the former US military bases after the Americans had pulled out. He lauded all employees for their efforts throughout the agency’s existence.
“It has been 30 years since the 12 senators rejected the extension of the bases treaty in 1991. We didn’t know what was in store for us then. What we didn’t know was something bigger was bound to happen—for me to be working with the best government-owned and –controlled corporation (GOCC) employees in the country, the SBMA employees,” Paulino said.
The anniversary celebration continued until the evening for the kick-off ceremony of combined celebration between the SBMA and the City Government of Olongapo, as well as a reunion with former SBMA chairmen and administrators, and the lighting of the Christmas tree, officially launching the Yuletide season at the Boardwalk Event Center.
During the evening program, the former Chairmen and Administrators were honored through an audio-visual presentation entitled, “Hailing the Captains and First Mates of the Economic Flagship of the Philippines.”
Former Chairman and Administrator Roberto Garcia, former Administrator Armand Arreza, and Atty. Marvin Diño on behalf of former Chairman Martin Diño partook in the celebration, all of them thanking employees for a job well done, and wishing the best for the SBMA.
Emerging from the ranks of Employees of the Year of their respective Strategic Business Units (SBUs) were Peter Moneda of the Public Services Group for Category 1 and Engr. Jomel Libut of the Regulatory Group for Category 2.
The SBMA also honored 238 awardees who have achieved ten years, or more, of continuous and satisfactory service in the government during the 8th SBMA Loyalty Awards Ceremony at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC). At least 17 awardees were honored for their 10 years of service; 10 awardees for 15 years of service, 35 awardees for 20 years of service, and 176 awardees for 25 years of service.
Awardees were given commemorative items according to their length of service, sash, certificates or plaques of recognition, and cash incentives.
The Port Operations Group also staged a gift-giving activity dubbed "Give Love on SBMA Day," where ten children with special needs were beneficiaries of gifts and a familiarization tour of the BRP Hydrographer Presbitero, a research and survey vessel docked at the Riviera Pier of the Ship Repair Facility (SRF).