New SBMA chief named

President Duterte has appointed a former official of a tobacco company as administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), a move that may resolve the leadership problem at the Subic freeport.

Wilma Eisma, former public affairs head of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Company Inc., was designated by the President as SBMA administrator following the recent squabble between SBMA chair Martin Dino and acting administrator Randy Escolango.

“By virtue hereof, you may qualify and enter upon the performance of the duties of the office, furnishing this office and the Civil Service Commission with copies of your oath of office,” Mr. Duterte said in his Dec. 21 letter to Eisma.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea sent a letter informing Dino of the appointment of Eisma, who received the copy of her appointment on Tuesday.

Medialdea directed the SBMA chair to “kindly notify and furnish” Eisma of her appointment letter within seven days.

Dino, who filed the original certificate of candidacy for president which Mr. Duterte used to run as standard-bearer of PDP-Laban party, had assumed the duties of SBMA administrator in October, ignoring Medialdea’s authority to designate Escolango.