Export zones not part of city's development plan

EXPORT Processing Zones are not part of the plans of the City Government of Davao as the local government does not own any parcel of land.

In an interview Wednesday, outgoing Councilor Peter Lavina said that the establishment of an export processing zone has never been part of the city's development timeline.

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"There are several companies that applied to be export processing zones, but it is just for their own good and usage," Lavina said.

Among those that submitted applications are Legaspi Oil, AJMR Corporation, and the proposed Mandug Industrial Park of the Lapanday Group of Companies.

"But for the City Government to put up an export processing zone has never been planned. We do not have the land to put it in," Lavina said.

Cities like Subic, Clark, Cebu, and even General Santos, have put up their own export processing zones in order to boost employment and investments in their area.

An export processing zone is a special area wherein materials maybe shipped in from other countries without tariffs and taxes. The raw materials are then processed inside the export processing zone and shipped out to their respective destinations.

"Our development direction has always been focused on tourism, property development, and agri-business," Lavina added. (CPM)