San Miguel Food and Beverage Corp. has elected former Transportation Secretary and aviation veteran Jaime J. Bautista as its newest independent director, effective February 6. Bautista, 68, will serve the unexpired term of Ferdinand K. Constantino, who resigned as director and treasurer at the end of January.
Bautista brings decades of experience from both the corporate and government sectors. He previously served as president and chief operating officer of Philippine Airlines and as Secretary of Transportation from 2022 to 2025.
He has held directorships in Cosco Capital, Philippine Bank of Communications, and Alphaland Corporation and currently chairs SKAL International Makati while sitting on the Board of Governors of the Management Association of the Philippines. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in Accounting from Colegio de San Juan de Letran, is a Certified Public Accountant, and holds an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Central Luzon State University.
The Board also confirmed Monica L. Ang as treasurer while she continues her roles as Chief Finance Officer and Chief Risk Officer.
The company declared a regular cash dividend of P0.50 per share payable on March 6, 2026. Shareholders on record as of February 20, 2026, will benefit from the dividend with books closing February 21 to 26.
Non-executive directors held a meeting with the external auditor and heads of internal audit, compliance, and risk without any executive directors present except Ang, highlighting the company’s commitment to governance. Lead Independent Director Cirilo P. Noel chaired the session.
With Bautista now on the board, San Miguel gains seasoned leadership and a steady hand, while shareholders can enjoy a smooth dividend landing.
