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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) warned that truck trading companies found violating rules, policies and the terms and conditions of their lease contract with the Subic agency would be shut down.
In a meeting with truck traders at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center here recently, SBMA Chairman and administrator Wilma Eisma said the agency found at least 11 violations and issues committed by several truck trading firms at the Freeport.
These include problems on working visa and royalty, as well as violations of policies on working permit, importation, use of marshalling yard, subleasing, occupancy and use of leased property, parking and environment.
The SBMA said 88 vehicle trading companies were operating in Subic, the only free port wherein the importation of used vehicles and heavy equipment from abroad is allowed by law.
During the meeting, Eisma specifically inveighed against the practice by some truck traders to secure only one work permit for multiple employees, the sponsorship of foreign workers to secure work visa for a fee, and the use of one company’s importation privileges by another firm also for a fee.
“It has been brought to my attention by the Bureau of Immigration that some of your employees are out here employed without working visas. If your work visa is only for one company, you cannot work for another company here in Subic,” Eisma told the traders and their staff.
She said they had submitted the names of erring companies to the Bureau of Immigration.
Eisma also stressed that the locators’ importation privileges were provided for under their individual Certificate of Registration and Tax Exemption, and is not transferable.
She told business locators that the SBMA had the power to pre-terminate contracts, including those that govern industrial parks inside the Subic Bay Freeport, upon any violation of the terms and conditions of its lease agreement with the SBMA without a court action.
The SBMA chief also noted that the huge time lapse in the issuance of the admission permit against the actual pullout of equipment and trucks is another violation.
Eisma said some companies were found to be importing more than the volume allowed for their leased areas, thus leading to the illegal parking of these imports on the side of the roads.
Eisma gave errant truck traders until June 1 to comply with the SBMA requirements before their registration as business locators are revoked or canceled.
Source: manilatimes.net
