The new heads of two of the country’s top investment promotion agencies, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), have been named.
Former Butuan representative Charito B. Plaza has been appointed as the new director general of PEZA, while former Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption chairman Martin Diño is the new chairman of SBMA.
Diño gave way to then Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte to represent PDP-Laban in the run for presidency.
Current SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia confirmed Diño’s appointment, but noted that no official appointment papers have been issued as of September 23.
Plaza was a congresswoman for 12 years and was one of the authors of Republic Act (RA) No. 7916, or The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 that created PEZA. She was also the principal author of RA No. 7901 that created Caraga as the 17th region of the country, earning her the moniker Mother of Caraga Region. Caraga occupies the northeastern section of the island of Mindanao.
She replaces Lilia de Lima, who headed PEZA for 21 years, and who served under four administrations.
Plaza previously chaired the Lower House committees on tourism and public information, and was vice chair of the National Defense Committee. She was also a former assistant majority floor leader, and acting speaker during her stint in the Lower House.
After her legislative term, Plaza worked as a consultant of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, and Armed Forces of the Philippines. She also served as brigadier general of the AFP Reserve Force.
As of September 23, no official papers for Plaza’s appointment have been issued.
