Subic traders pay new fees, but grudgingly

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The business community here has begun paying the Common Use Service Area (Cusa) fee, which intends to recover expenses for services such as street cleaning, street lighting, fire fighting and law enforcement inside this economic zone.

The freeport’s locators and investors, however, continue to fight the new fee, with some choosing to sue Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Anti-investment

Officials of the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) said while their group acknowledges the huge financial problem of SBMA, imposing the Cusa fee would hurt locators and residents.

In a statement, however, the chamber said the Cusa fee “is contrary to the spirit and intent” of the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992 “as it places undue burden on locators and residents.”

On Oct. 30, the SBMA began sending locators and residents the billing statements on the new fees.

“Some were surprised that the bills based on the lowered rates were not as bad as they first thought those would be. Some said they are willing to give SBMA a chance but are expecting improved services,” said Danny Piano, SBFCC president.

Up in arms

He said residents were charged P1,200, while small companies were charged between P2,500 and P6,000. The bigger locators, however, were charged more than P120,000.

“Companies with large leased property … with high Cusa bills are obviously still up in arms about it,” said Piano.

Two firms—Subic International Hotel and Subic Technopark—are suing SBMA to stop the fee collection, he said.