SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito lauded Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Jonathan Tan for his efforts to repossess land underutilized by locators.

Ejercito presided over a remote hearing of the Senate Finance Committee on the SBMA with the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, the Philippine Center for Economic Development, and the Philippine Racing Commission.

The senator lauded Tan for auditing the companies that had failed to pay their taxes or had not developed their properties, leaving the land idle.

"I'm in and out there; I usually have breakfast, and ride my bike there. I can see idle lands and facilities that are going bad; what a waste," he said, mainly in Filipino.

The SBMA has repossessed 10 parcels of unused land, with 20 more lined up for repossession. Tan said the agency is conducting audits to ensure business vibrancy at the freeport.

"That's a good start on your incumbency, so hopefully you can turn Subic around again. Make it more vibrant again. It should be a prime destination, like way back in the 1990s. Subic Bay is really the place to go," Ejercito said.

The SBMA presented to the Senate committee its 2024 proposed projects, for which the Department of Budget and Management had allocated P661 million intended for road, port, maritime, and traffic control rehabilitation.

Senior Deputy Administrator for Support Services Atty. Ramon Agregado asked the Senate for an additional budget of P936 million for future projects of the SBMA, including the construction of a smart city.

Agregado said the additional funding will also be used to improve various aircraft movement area visual guides and auxiliaries at Subic Bay International Airport.

"We'll try to scrutinize the additional P936 million you requested," Ejercito said.