[ Manila Bulletin Online ] May 9, 2008
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said yesterday "it has not been giving preferential treatment to Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Philippines (HHIC-Phil), the South Korean investor that is operating the .7-billion shipyard at Subic’s Redondo Peninsula."
SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator Ramon Agregado made this statement as the Senate called for an inquiry on incentives and privileges given by the agency to HHIC-Phil.
Senator Loren Legarda, who filed a resolution proposing an inquiry on Hanjin’s privileges, had said that the investigation seeks to come up with measures "to ensure that the preferred status of investors in economic zones is not abused.
Agregado said "the SBMA is giving equal treatment to all locators and investors in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone."
"Like all other locators in Subic, Hanjin gets no preferential treatment," Agregado said.
"Of course, we have to prioritize some of Hanjin’s extraordinary requirements because of its tight construction and delivery schedule, but there was no short cut nor special privilege given," he said.
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