Tuesday, December 18, 2007 Ruiz agrees with need to change Peza charter
REP. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (Cebu, 6th district) is amenable to amending the charter of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) to avoid another territorial and taxing power dispute with its host local government unit (LGU).
“It is a good intention because we are to define clearly the limit of PEZA and its host LGU, pero lisod ni kon magpataka ta, basin unya hinoon ug maulawan ta (we don’t want to be groping in the dark on this),” she said on the approved Lapu-Lapu City Council resolution asking her and the Senate to work on a bill that redefines Peza’s authority.
Jurisdiction
Last October, Mactan Export Zone (MEZ) officials and Lapu-Lapu City officials fought over jurisdiction of Marina Mall, which is owned by Efrain Pelaez Jr.
“The near violent confrontation last Oct. 19 seemed to be a result on the lack of clear knowledge by both sides as to the extent of jurisdiction and authority in the issuance of building permits and other variances,” said the resolution of Councilor Efren Herrera.
The City shut down mall operations because its building permit and other variances were not issued by City Hall. But MEZ interceded and reopened the mall after a nine-hour standoff, insisting that the mall’s Peza-issued building permit and other variances are legal because the establishment is inside Peza territory.
Ruiz said she is careful with the issue because export zones are prime movers of the country’s economy.
Feasibility
“Naa tingali angayan nga usbon (we probably have to change something) to suit what is necessary at this present situation and we will study that feasibility,” she said, adding that what happened between MEZ and Lapu-Lapu City should not happen to other LGUs that host Peza zones.
The court’s preliminary injunction, which ordered both City Hall and Pelaez to observe a status quo until the merit of the case is resolved, brought a lull in their heated conflict.
Pelaez said City Hall is running after him because of his expose on alleged anomalous government transactions.
Herrera said the jurisdictional conflict between Peza and the City over the mall has adversely affected the City’s relentless drive to step up tax collection. He said that for some years, the City was not able to collect variance and building permit from the building’s owner. (AIV)
