SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand C. Arreza said Monday that he sees a smooth transition of leadership ahead of his stepping down, along with SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga, for a new chapter of the agency to be headed by new appointees Rafael Reyes and Roberto Garcia.

Garcia will be the new SBMA chairman and Reyes will take the post of administrator in what Arreza described as the smoothest transition ever done in SBMA.

Arreza said: “We are now working to transition smoothly. I am confident that Chairman Bobby (Garcia) and Administrator Paey (Reyes) will take Subic to greater heights.”

Reyes, a former volunteer like Arreza, was described by the incumbent as a good man and has already experienced working in the agency.

Arreza pointed out that during Senator Richard Gordon’s term, Reyes was already the deputy administrator for corporate planning.

The newly appointed administrator graduated from Stanford University in California, USA, wherein he obtained his Bachelor of Science and master’s degrees in industrial engineering.

A son of former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) Chairperson Alice Reyes, the younger Reyes was once a senior executive in Belle Corp. and Amercan International Group (AIG).

Two other officials who were appointed by President Benigno S. Aquino III into the SBMA Board of Directors were Alfonso Siapno and Wilfredo Pineda.

Arreza is the fourth and current administrator and CEO of the SBMA. He is the youngest official to hold the title of Administrator.