CANDELARIA, Zambales, Philippines — Top officials of the provincial government and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) agreed to work closely together to further develop and enhance the economic competitiveness of Zambales and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

This was the agreement made by Zambales governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. and incoming SBMA chairman Roberto V. Garcia when the Subic executive called on the political leader at his residence here over the weekend.

Garcia, who was named by President Aquino to replace current SBMA chairman Feliciano G. Salonga, made the rounds of the local communities around the Subic Bay Freeport Zone last week and gave courtesy calls on local executives in Zambales and Bataan.

Last Saturday, Garcia was Ebdane’s guest for lunch at the governor’s residence in Barangay Sinabacan here.

During the meeting, the two executives touched on mutual cooperation and joint planning for the development of local communities.

“There are areas in the province like Anawangin and Silangin coves, which we can help develop to promote tourism in Zambales,” Garcia volunteered. “We can plan together for this initiative,” the SBMA chair added.

Ebdane, for his part, promised that his office will be supportive of SBMA’s program for community development.

Ebdane said that Zambales would welcome such assistance from the SBMA, as Garcia’s proposal would dovetail with the governor’s program of developing a tourism niche for the province.

“But we have to do it right,” Ebdane stressed, explaining his stand on development.

“There is always the social factor to consider,” Ebdane said. “And if there’s going to be some negative effect on, say, the livelihood of some sectors, then we have to rethink our projects,” he added.

In the same meeting, Garcia mentioned that the 15-man SBMA board of directors still lacked representatives from the municipality of Subic in Zambales, Olongapo City, and the town of Morong in Bataan.

Garcia was supposed to formally take over his post as SBMA chairman last Friday, but the SBMA reportedly postponed the turnover ceremony after Salonga fell sick last week.