EFFORTS have shifted to high gear to proclaim a coastal portion in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) as its first special economic zone.

Such is a strategy to make the impoverished region become competitive in the East Asean economic sub-grouping, officials said.

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Ishak V. Mastura, Armm deputy executive secretary, said that regional Governor Zaldy U. Ampatuan is expected to declare the village of Polloc in Parang, Maguindanao as a special economic zone.

"Within the special economic zone is the Port of Polloc which shall be declared as free port. We're eyeing the declaration in August," Mastura said on the phone.

Should Polloc be finally declared as an economic zone, it would be six years after the Armm Regional Legislative Assembly created the Regional Economic Zone Authority (Reza).

Reza was created with the passage of the Armm Special Economic Zone Act of 2003.

Earlier, Mastura, when he was still Armm Trade secretary, blamed lack of funds in the failure of Reza to discharge its duties, thus the delay in the declaration of Polloc as a special economic zone.

Last May, Ampatuan formed the Reza management committee that has been given funds amounting to P12.5 million. Its primary goal is to work out the declaration of Polloc as a special economic zone.

Ampatuan said the special economic zone in Polloc will place Armm in a competitive position in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia Philippines East Asean Growth Area.

Lawyer Oscar A. Sampulna, Armm executive secretary, said the proclamation of Polloc as a special economic zone is a big step forward for the region in harnessing its economic potentials and boosting its comparative advantage.

There is, however, the need to greatly improve Polloc port if it will be designated as a free port since the facility is in bad shape, having been built 30 years ago, officials admitted. The port lacks water supply and lightings, its facilities are inoperative, and the port’s generator is missing.

The move to declare Barangay Polloc as a special economic zone has gained the backing of the business sector in the area.

Datu Haron U. Bandila, Armm Business Council chair, said the special economic zone is important in spurring the development of the region.

"We cannot afford to delay the proclamation," Bandila said, claiming that "many are already eager for the operationalization of the Polloc freeport."

Investors who will locate to the soon-to-be declared special economic zone are entitled to incentives, such as tax holidays, tax exemptions, duty-free privileges, waiver of fees and charges and tax credits or deductions, Armm officials said. (BSS)