SBMA Chairman and Administrator Engr. Eduardo Jose Aliño; Management team of the SBMA; DOF Undersecretaries Alu Dorotan-Tiuseco and Rolly Tungpalan; fellow workers in government: good afternoon.

Today, we once again gather for another testament to the strength of good governance and nation-building as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority formally turns over 1.47 billion pesos in dividends to the National Treasury. This is more or less equivalent to 200 thousand scholars in the tertiary level.

Bawat piso na naipapasok natin sa kaban ng bayan ay mahalaga at bawat sentimo ay may kapalit na pag-asa para sa ating mga kababayan.

And what makes dividends special—and why I always say they are my favorite kind of revenue— is simple: dividends help us raise funds for government programs without raising taxes on our people.

Ang ibig sabihin po nito kumikita tayo bilang isang bansa, hindi dahil nagdagdag tayo ng buwis, kundi dahil magaling magpatakbo ang ating mga GOCCs.

So they represent not sacrifice, but shared success. For we are earning this money by demanding more from ourselves—more efficiency, more integrity, more excellence in public service.

And in the case of SBMA, these earnings are the fruit of staying true to its unique mandate.

SBMA was created to transform what was once a military base into a world-class economic engine— a self-sustaining investment hub that generates jobs and opportunities for all people.

I’m glad to know that the Administrator told me earlier that more than 160 thousand jobs are created in SBMA.

You make sure goods move freely, and you give businesses the right reasons to come and invest here. You also keep the Subic Special Economic Zone safe and orderly.

In short, SBMA builds, earns, and protects. And now, it gives back bigger to the Filipino nation. This is the full circle of public service.

And so, to our colleagues at the SBMA, maraming maraming salamat po para sa 1.4 bilyon na dibidendo.

As we look to the future, I urge the SBMA to take the next bold step. We have the talent, the location, the incentives, and the leadership to make Subic not just a regional hub, but a global player.

So, let’s keep raising your standards, keep innovating, and keep making Subic the kind of place where investors would want to come, stay, and grow.

And you can count on the DOF’s full support in creating the conditions that will make that happen.

Kaya, tuloy-tuloy lang po ang ating trabaho. For your success helps us ensure our nation’s steady progress. Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!