Thursday, September 28, 2006 Ecozone proposal can ‘unite’ Cebu vs. Sugbuak
THE business community in Cebu is pursuing a project that it believes will snuff out plans to divide the province into smaller provinces.
In a press conference yesterday, Cebu ecozone study group chairman Gerry Sta. Ana said the Cebu ecozone project of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) could “serve as a uniting” factor for Cebuano politicians involved in the “Sugbuak” issue.
“This project could be a reason for them to set aside the issue, for the good of the entire province,” he said.
Reps. Clavel Asas-Martinez (Cebu, 4th district), Simeon Kintanar (Cebu, 2nd district) and Antonio Yapha (Cebu, 3rd district) had filed separate bills proposing for the creation of three separate provinces out of Cebu Province. The House committee on local government is conducting hearings on the three bills.
The idea to have the entire Cebu Province declared an economic zone was conceptualized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
CCCI president Francis Monera said the Cebu ecozone project is nearing realization as the government of Germany, through the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), has committed to fund a feasibility study on the proposal.
Agreement
CCCI and GTZ officials signed an agreement regarding the study yesterday at Casino Español de Cebu.
GTZ Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Sustainable Employment Program (Smedsep) director Martina Vahlhaus said the organization is willing to fund the feasibility study until its completion in November this year.
“An estimate of the project cost would be euro10,000 to 20,000 (P1.2 million),” she said.
The CCCI believes that proclaiming Cebu as one ecozone would create an enabling environment – that will include, among others, reduced cost of doing business and better capabilities — in the province and result in more investments.
Monera stressed that the ecozone declaration will not only cover Metro Cebu but the entire province.
“Maybe it is time (for those people involved in the Sugbuak issue) to look at the implication of the Sugbuak,” he said.
GTZ is an implementing agency of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the government of Germany, which has an existing development cooperation agreement with the Philippine Government.
GTZ provides viable, forward-looking solutions for political, economic, ecological and social development in a globalized world.
Fit
Vahlhaus said CCCI’s project fits one of GTZ’s visions, which is to improve the local investment climate through promotion and marketing in partnership with the local sector.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 Director Aster Caberte said making Cebu province an economic zone would support the government’s vision of creating a mega region out of the entire Visayas.
“Cebu could be the hub of this mega region,” she said.
DTI is GTZ’s legal partner in the Philippines.
Monera said no less than President Arroyo has encouraged the CCCI to pursue the project.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia also expressed her support to the project, but urged the private sector to take the lead. (JBN)
