Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan
In 1972, the Bataan Export Processing Zone (BEPZ) became the first official economic zone in the Philippines through Republic Act 5490 of 1969, primarily authored by Congressman Pablo Roman of Bataan. The BEPZ was one of the most progressive communities in Luzon during its first decade of operation. The area attracted over one hundred multinational locators. However, in the 90s to 2000s BEPZ (now renamed as Bataan Economic Zone or BEZ after the enactment of Republic Act 7916 in February 1995) stagnated and declined after it was outcompeted by two newly formed freeport zones from the remnants of American bases in nearby Clark and Subic Bay.
To put a halt to BEZ's decline and allow the zone to fulfill its original mandate to become a catalyst for progress and development in the region, Bataan 2nd District Congressman Albert S. Garcia authored a bill for the conversion of Bataan Economic Zone into a freeport. The Philippine Congress thereafter passed the Freeport Area of Bataan Act (Republic Act 9728), which was enacted into law on October 23, 2009. This Act created the Freeport Area of Bataan (which replaced Bataan Economic Zone (BEZ) eight months later on June 30, 2010), a special economic zone and freeport with a dedicated governing authority, the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB). President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Deogracias G.P. Custodio as the first AFAB chairman and administrator in March 2010. Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) turned over the zone's operations and management to AFAB on Arroyo's last day as President of the Philippines and Benigno Aquino III became president on June 30, 2010, which officially started AFAB's operations and management over the zone, and resulted in the conversion of the zone from BEZ into FAB, abolishment of BEZ and the creation of the second freeport zone in the province after Subic Freeport in Morong and Hermosa, with Deogracias G.P. Custodio became the first AFAB chairman and administrator after being appointed three months earlier. On August 30, 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11453, amending the provisions of RA 9728, and further strengthening the powers and functions of AFAB, enabling the freeport to expant its operation anywhere within the province of Bataan. The first logo of AFAB, used from the conversion of the zone from Bataan Economic Zone (BEZ) to Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) and turnover of the zone's operations and management from Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to AFAB on June 30, 2010, to 2011, featured a bird symbol and AFAB text on a red rectangle, with the text "Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan" in red below. This logo was only used for one year. The second and current logo of AFAB, used since April 2011, features the FAB in blue text with red and blue swirl or spiral on the upper-right of the text, and the text "Freeport Area of Bataan" below. The swirl or spiral of the logo symbolizes growth, swirl's interlocking parts represents trade and partnership, and red and blue are reminiscent of national pride, with red exudes determination, passion and strength, and blue depicts stability and depth. This logo started to be used on the freeport zone's administration building on late 2011, one year after the Bataan Export Processing Zone (BEPZ)/BEZ/PEZA logo and all references to it were removed in September 2010. The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) is headed by an Administrator who sits as Chairman of the 9-member AFAB Board of Directors. Each Board member represents a sector that is vital to the growth and development of the FAB. All members, including the chairman, are appointed by the President of the Philippines. The AFAB may grant to its FAB enterprises incentives under the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 or the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987. The AFAB has the power to operate on its own, or to license, tourism-related enterprises, including games, gambling casinos, horse-racing and other recreational and sports facilities, subject to the approval and supervision of PAGCOR.
History
The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) is a government agency attached to the Office of the President of the Philippines that operates and manages the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) in Mariveles, Bataan, Philippines. The FAB was originally designed as an Export Processing Zone. The objective of the AFAB is to revive the area and expand the Freeport.