ATTY. RUEL JOHN T. KABIGTING

Atty. Ruel John T. Kabigting - was appointed on August 27, 2024 by His Excellency President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos as Member of the SBMA Board of Directors (representing the National Government).

Prior to his appointment to the SBMA Board, Atty. Kabigting held various management positions from 1998 to 2024. He is reputedly, to date, the officer of the SBMA who headed the most number of its Departments and Offices starting with the Legal Department in 1998, followed by the Labor Department, President & CEO of the Freeport Service Corporation, Land and Asset Management Department, Planning and Development Office, OIC Senior Deputy Administrator Business and Investments Group,OIC Deputy Administrator for Business (Tourism), OIC Ecology Department and OIC Senior Deputy Administrator Regulatory Group, and Deputy Administrator for Administration.

He has been a speaker/presenter and participant in several international urban and economic development conferences.

Atty. Kabigting’s first stint in government was as Corporate Secretary/Deputy Administrator of the Philippine Coconut Authority from 1993 to 1998 where he assisted its Board of Directors and Management in overseeing the implementation of the World Bank-funded $121 Million 5-Year Small Coconut Farms Development Project.

A true blue Atenean until college, Atty. Kabigting was educated at the Ateneo de Manila University from elementary to college where he graduated in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, major in Political Science. He was very active in college theater, Tanghalang Ateneo, of which he was President and Company Administrator in his senior year. He then acquired his Bachelor of Laws (LlB) degree from the Manuel Luis Quezon University (MLQU) in Manila1987 and passed the 1988 Bar Exams.

Born in Quezon City on November 24, 1959, which coincides with the SBMA’s Anniversary, Atty. Kabigting or “Director DA Chot” as he is fondly called by colleagues, believes that it was destiny that led him to Subic Bay Freeport and work for the SBMA.

Other positions he has held include Trustee, Brent International School Subic from years 2000 to 2024, member of the Board of Directors of the former Bataan Technology Park Inc., and member of the Subic Bay Water Regulatory Board.