Hermosa mayor: SBMA revenue shares arrive at crucial time after storms

The distribution of P197.85 million in revenue shares from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) comes at a crucial time for areas near the Freeport that were recently battered by tropical storms Crising, Dante, and Emong, as well as the southwest monsoon.

Hermosa Mayor Anne Adorable-Inton emphasized the importance of the funding during the turnover ceremony held on 4 August 2025 at the SBMA Corporate Boardroom.

“Hermosa has hit a deficit in resources because of the calamity. This LGU shares distribution will be a huge boost to augment the resources we lost. As you all know, Hermosa was among the most hardly hit municipalities by the heavy rains brought about by the typhoons and the southwest monsoon, as 18 out of 23 barangays got flooded,” she said.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño said the distribution covers revenues collected from January to June 2025 and supports local government units (LGUs) in projects related to tourism, infrastructure, education, peace and order, health, livelihood, and social services.

Olongapo City received the largest share at P46,270,769.33 due to its population size and land area. In Zambales, Subic followed with P29,683,317.56, San Marcelino with P23,763,694.31, Castillejos with P17,987,887.14, and San Antonio with P16,824,398.47.

In Bataan, Dinalupihan received P24,643,508.58, Hermosa was allotted P21,186,145.67, and Morong received P17,489,910.85.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Support Services Atty. Ramon Agregado explained that LGU shares are calculated based on a formula: 50 percent for population, 25 percent for land area, and 25 percent for equal sharing. The net share is computed by adding the current base share and the 10 percent retention from two years prior, then deducting the 10 percent retention for the current period.

Agregado also noted the decline in total shares this year compared to 2024, when P204.7 million was distributed. The drop to P197.8 million was attributed to a 25 percent tax imposed by the Department of Finance, which is remitted to the BIR, as well as the removal of the previous five percent tax privilege — three percent of which had gone to the BIR and two percent to the LGUs.

SBMA distributes revenue shares twice a year: in August for collections from January to June, and in February for those from July to December.