Photo courtesy of SBMA
By Percy Roxas
Subic Bay Freeport – Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman and administrator Jonathan D. Tan has adopted a position to buckle down on erring locators.
Earlier today, Tan –thru SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator Atty. Ramon Agregado –led the repossession of the leased premises of the Nile Niigata Subic, a truck trading company located along Boton Highway, Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
In a letter to Nile Niigata president Muhammad Kafeel, Tan said the lease term of the company has expired on Jan. 31, 2022.
He said the company’s unsettled accounts with SBMA amounts to almost P5Million. The said arrears represented the company’s unpaid lease rentals, Common Use Service Area (CUSA) fees, and the five percent share of the Aeta indigenous cultural community , which had already accrued interests and penalties as of Nov. 8, 2023.
Tan also mentioned that despite the foregoing defaults, he granted a final grace to fully settle their outstanding obligations and comply with the rules of the SBMA, on or before Oct. 31.
“Unfortunately, they failed to make a settlement despite the utmost liberality the SBMA has extended,” Tan said.
“While we try to understand the financial predicament of our locators, still, this is a business we need to run efficiently for our stakeholders and the country in general.” Tan said. “This is why we are hell bent and determined now more than ever, on taking over properties of erring locators so we can offer them to other legitimate companies that can help steer the country’s economy on an upward trend. The “how” is called “tough love.”
Nile Niigata was engaged in trading, import and export of trucks, buses and heavy equipment, including spare parts. It is also into trading of industrial construction and agricultural machineries and equipment, including conversion and repair parts.
The company occupied 1,588sqm of area of leased property, with a direct lease with the SBMA. (30)
