News Update Professional, skilled managers head Bataan Freeport - Garcia

MARIVELES, Bataan, Philippines - A senior member of the House of Representatives who was also the architect for the conversion of the defunct Bataan Economic Zone (BEZ) into the Authority of Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) has disclosed that the management of AFAB is composed of professional and highly skilled managers. Rep. Abet S. Garcia (2nd District, Bataan) also admired the administrative skills and professionalism of the new set of AFAB management led by Deogracias Custodio, a lawyer whom he called a "professional manager." Earlier, a number of BEZ personnel held protest action in front of the BEZ administration building where they protested their long-delayed bonuses and increment pay. They also called for the designation of professional managers to manage AFAB. The issue was also capitalized by losing politician and former Mayor Oscar delos Reyes who circulated an open letter in the town, also accusing AFAB officials of alleged overspending and incompetent. As this developed, Custodio turned the tables on Delos Reyes, saying "all salaries in the list are under the Salary Standardization Law Scheme and at the Step 1 Level. In fact, several BEZ /PEZA employees at the Division Chief Level are getting salaries higher than that of the AFAB Chairman." Earlier, the Commission on Audit (CoA) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) have cautioned the AFAB in paying compensation and other emoluments due for employees of the defunct BEZ-PEZA, now acting in holdover capacity at the AFAB. In its Dec. 2, 2010 letter to AFAB, the COA Regional Office No. III pointed out that they could not grant the Authority to Disburse the Christmas Bonus as they suggested that AFAB refer to the FAB (Freeport Area of Bataan) Act or the PEZA law for guidance. Earlier, Custodio instructed the AFAB Legal and Compliance Group to consult with the CSC and COA regarding a tenable legal basis for releasing the bonus being requested by BEZ/PEZA employees due to an Executive Order issued last September 8 by President Aquino.