Integrity Pledge waived for renewal of locator’s permit

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Board has issued Resolution 17-05- 2004, removing the Integrity Pledge as a requisite for renewal of a locator’s business certificate.

The resolution came out on June 15 this year.

Earlier, Brighterday Subic Ltd. Inc. (BSLI), operator of All Hands Beach, filed a petition before Branch 75 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) challenging the requirement made by SBMA for investors to compulsorily sign the Integrity Pledge.

Mark Dayrit, Brighterday chairman, complained before the court that free port investors were being “coerced and forced” to sign the pledge for their business operations to continue.

The investors were previously required to submit the signed Integrity Pledge at least a week before the renewal or issuance of their business permit.

The RTC had issued an injunction in favor of BSLI because it found that Resolution 17-05-2004 was being implemented in an “abhorrent” manner.

It then directed the SBMA to issue BSLI’s Certificate of Registration and Tax Exemption (CRTE).

Because of the subsequent issuance of the resolution, the court dismissed the petition filed by BSLI.

In his order issued on July 26, Judge Raymond Viray of RTC Branch 75 said the petition was rendered moot and academic after the SBMA removed the Integrity Pledge as a prerequisite for business registration and renewal of permit.

Viray added that the free port asked the court to dismiss the petition of Brighterday Subic Ltd. Inc., saying the SBMA had removed the pledge from its business requirements.

The SBMA described the Integrity Pledge as a commitment to ethical business practices and good corporate governance.

On May 23, the SBMA Board passed a resolution that removed the pledge from the requisites in obtaining a certificate of registration and tax exemption.

Instead, the board decided to make the Integrity Pledge a voluntary document as a “good governance practice.” (Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/integrity-pledge-waived-renewal-locators-permit/343125/

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SBMA employees sign Integrity Pledge to stamp out corruption

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is confident of stamping out corruption in this premier free port, as officers and employees of the agency signed the Integrity Pledge to support the national campaign to eliminate graft and corruption.

Led by agency head Chairman Roberto Garcia, more than 1,000 senior officials and employees of the SBMA formally indicated their commitment to ethical business practices during a mass signing ceremony held at the start of the recent SBMA Mini-Olympics.

Garcia said that practicing good governance, such as eliminating red tape and undertaking transparent and faster transactions, goes a long way in promoting good business and building investor confidence.

“We have seen the fruits of good governance right here at the SBMA,” Garcia said, pointing out that with such practice SBMA was able to resurrect its finances from the brink of bankruptcy to become one of the top revenue contributors among the economic zones in the country.

Garcia said that the SBMA managed to remit a total of P572.9 million worth of dividends to the national government in 2015 after posting total revenue of P2.75 billion.

“Last year, we were ranked number 11 among all the government-owned or –controlled companies,” Garcia noted.

The Integrity Pledge is a document whereby an individual or company expresses commitment to abide by ethical business practices and to support a national campaign against graft and corruption.

Garcia signed the Integrity Pledge on behalf of the agency in June 2013 as a means to instill a culture of transparency and accountability in the Subic Bay Freeport.

The pledge is acknowledged to be an effective tool in preventing corruption in public contracting, as it stipulates rights and obligations to the effect that neither side will pay, offer, demand or accept bribes, collude with competitors to obtain contract; or engage in such abuses while executing the contract.

Garcia said that the SBMA has institutionalized the Integrity Pledge in the Subic Bay Freeport with the creation of a Code of Conduct for all employees and officials of SBMA, and encouraging stakeholders like business locators, suppliers, and the local government units surrounding the Freeport to sign the Integrity Pledge before any transaction is to be made.

The SBMA board has also passed a resolution recently making the Integrity Pledge a precondition to the renewal of business permits for all locators in the free port.

In January 2015, the SBMA sponsored a mass signing of the Integrity Pledge for more than 150 executives from various locators and investors here in Subic, making it the first Philippine free port to do so. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
SBMA employees sign the Integrity Pledge during a mass signing ceremony in support of the national campaign against graft and corruption. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Freeport locators pledge to curb corruption

More than 150 executives from various locator-companies and investors in this free port signed the Integrity Pledge on Friday, marking another significant milestone for the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in its fight against corruption.

In a ceremony held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), SBMA officials led by Chairman Roberto Garcia administered the Integrity Pledge (IP) for representatives of investor firms here in support of President Aquino’s reform agenda and to strengthen the agency’s corporate governance initiatives, and create a more conducive investment climate.

“Good governance means good business, and we have seen the fruits of good governance,” said Garcia stressed during the ceremony.

“Aside from being a good corporate citizen, companies that sign this pledge will get certain perks given to clean and ethical companies,” Garcia pointed out.

He added that the SBMA’s Integrity Program has been endorsed by the SBMA Board of Directors through a board resolution last year.

The Integrity Pledge, which was introduced in the country by the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), is a document signed by heads of companies and government agencies to express their commitment to abide by ethical business practices and to support a national campaign against graft and corruption.

The pledge is regarded as an effective tool aimed at preventing corruption in public contracting, as it enables companies to abstain from bribing by providing assurances that their competitors will likewise refrain from bribery.

At the same time, it enables the government to reduce the high cost and distorting impact of corruption on private procurement, privatization or business licensing, and issuance of permits.

The IP stipulates rights and obligations to the effect that neither side will pay, offer, demand or accept bribes, collude with competitors to obtain contract, or engage in such abuses while executing the contract.

Garcia said that SBMA has institutionalized IP in the Subic Freeport with the creation of a Code of Conduct for all employees and officials of SBMA. With this development, the SBMA will now also require stakeholders like Freeport locators, neighboring local government units (LGUs), and suppliers to sign the Integrity Pledge before any transaction is made.

Garcia praised the Bureau of Customs (Port of Subic) Collector Arnulfo Marcos for joining the IP signing and for being the first to submit his accomplished and signed IP form.

Meanwhile, in his address, Dr. Edilberto de Jesus of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), said that of the hundreds of companies nationwide that applied and were assessed by the Integrity Initiative Office, only 33 had passed and only 12 were given Integrity Pledge certifications.

“Integrity is not easy to find these days,” De Jesus said. “What we have done today is the first step towards a fairly long journey. While the process is very difficult, it is the right thing to do and it should be done.”

In closing the ceremony, SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business Joy Alvarado urged the locators and investors to “start in your heart and in your own office the practice of Integrity Pledge.”

“Fight corruption; start the integrity revolution and see how you will shine as days pass,” Alvarado added. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
Ayala Harbor Point manager Derrick Manuel (Photo 1) and Didet Danguilan, communications manager of Philip Morris Philippines, Inc. (Photo 2) present a signed Integrity Pledge to SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia during the mass signing ceremony for Subic Bay Freeport locators at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on January 30. Looking on are SBMA Deputy Administrator for Business Joy Alvarado, Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce president Rose Baldeo, and Dr. Edilberto de Jesus of the Asian Institute of Management. (AED/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA locators required to sign Integrity Pledge

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is set to require locators, suppliers and contractors of the Subic Bay Freeport to sign the Integrity Pledge in line with its commitment to promote ethical business practices.

According to SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia, the agency would encourage local government units it has transactions with to be part of the initiative.

The move is being taken to make other stakeholders in the freeport involved in the agency’s commitment to eliminate graft and corruption.

In July, the SBMA signed the Integrity Initiative which is a private sector led effort aimed at helping the country escape from the vicious cycle of corruption through strengthening ethical standards in the society.

The initiative is a formal and concrete expression of commitment to abide by ethical business practices and to support a national campaign against corruption.

Upon signing of the pledge, the SBMA has implemented various measures to ensure transparency and implemented strict guidelines on receiving and giving of gifts, contributions, sponsorships and other tokens from or to all sectors.

“As a matter of fact, the SBMA is already implementing appropriate internal systems and controls to prevent, detect, and respond to any unethical conduct by our personnel, ensure good governance, and institutionalize the values of integrity and accountability in our business transactions,” he said.

To facilitate the implementation of measures aimed at promoting ethical business practices within the freeport, Garcia said the agency will also be forming a monitoring team.

He noted that the SBMA has long been involved in promoting ethical business practices through the eradication of one major source of corruption which is red tape.

The agency has been working to simplify processes and expedite transactions in accordance with Republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007. (Louella D. Desiderio, Philippine Star)

http://www.philstar.com/business/2014/10/13/1379429/sbma-locators-required-sign-integrity-pledge

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SBMA institutionalizes Integrity Program

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), in line with its corporate governance initiative and in support of President Aquino’s “Tuwid na Daan” program, is now moving to institutionalize the Integrity Pledge (IP) program, which requires ethical business practices.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the program will cover all officials and employees of the agency and will promote measures to eliminate graft and corruption in transactions within the free port.

Garcia also said that under the program, the SBMA will require Subic Bay Freeport stakeholders like business locators, as well as suppliers and contractors to sign the Integrity Pledge to remain in good standing with the SBMA.

The SBMA will also encourage local government units (LGUs) that transact business with the SBMA to sign the pledge. The SBMA provides revenue shares to eight LGUs that are contiguous to or affected by the operations of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Garcia, as head of the SBMA, signed in July last year the Integrity Pledge, which expressed the agency’s commitment to abide by ethical business practices and to support a national campaign against graft and corruption.

He said that upon signing of the Integrity Pledge, the SBMA implemented various measures to ensure transparency and implemented strict guidelines on receiving and giving of gifts, contributions, sponsorships and other tokens from or to all sectors.

“As a matter of fact, the SBMA is already implementing appropriate internal systems and controls to prevent, detect, and respond to any unethical conduct by our personnel, ensure good governance, and institutionalize the values of integrity and accountability in our business transactions,” Garcia also noted.

He added that the SBMA has long been eradicating one major source of corruption, the red tape, in its offices by continuous simplification of processes to expedite transactions in accordance with R.A. 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape act of 2007.

Proof of this effort, Garcia said, is the agency’s certification for ISO 9001:2008, which refers to quality management system that ensure that customers get consistent and good quality products and services.

In a recent briefing on “Improving the Business Climate Thru Integrity Initiative,” Jose Solomon Cortez of the Integrity Initiative Office explained that the program aims to prevent corruption in public contracting to the effect that neither the government agency nor the bidders will pay, offer, demand, or accept bribes, or collude with competitors to obtain contract.

Garcia said that all these measures are designed to impress upon everybody that the SBMA is seriously committed to help break the cycle of corruption.

He said that a monitoring team will be formed to facilitate the implementation and document the success of the agency's initiatives. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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