Wednesday, June 11, 2008 Antalan: Special economic zone and freeport authority By Roger P. Antalan Dateline Igacos
LAST Friday, 6 June 2008, a special public hearing was held at the Samal Gym, Island Garden City of Samal. It was the presentation of House Bill 1486 authored by Rep. Antonio F. Lagdameo Jr. of the second district of Davao del Norte.
This is the title of House Bill 1486: An Act Establishing A Special Economic Zone and Free Port In The Island Garden City of Samal, Province of Davao del Norte, Creating For This Purpose the Samal Island Special Economic Zone and Free Port Authority, Appropriating Funds Therefore And For Other Purposes.
Presenting the bill for discussion was the Committee on Economic Affairs of the House of Representatives headed by its chairman, Hon. Ramon "Red" Durano VI of Cebu, and members, namely, Hon. Ronald Singson (Ilocos Sur), Hon. Roman Romulo (Pasig), Hon. Vincent Garcia (Davao City), and Hon. Antonio F. Lagdameo.
The public hearing was well attended. In attendance were the leaders and representatives of the province and the island city, the Igacos City Council, the barangay captains, the national agencies, the department heads, the NGOs, the civil society, businessmen, tourism operators, the transport sector, the agriculture and fishery sectors, cooperatives, city employees, and other stakeholders. The media was also present.
The author, Lagdameo, started his opening remarks by mentioning two vital national concerns - eradication of poverty and increased economic recovery.
In his introductory note, he continued to state: "The establishment of an economic zone in the Island Garden City of Samal is proffered as vehicle that would contribute to the urgent national effort of curbing poverty. As proposed, the zone will be a self-sustaining industrial, commercial, tourist/recreational, banking, investment and financial center introducing attractive features of free port commerce similar to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Labuan, Malaysia. Customs duty and tariff-free trade of important goods, preferential tax treatment of operators, lenient immigration laws and other forms of incentives characterize the business climate within the economic zone to encourage foreign investors."
The bill will also create the Samal Island Special Economic Zone and Free Port Authority (Sisezfa) to oversee the operation and management of the economic zone.
The incumbent mayor, Hon. Aniano P. Antalan, in his welcome message profusely thanked the Committee on Economic Affairs and heartily encouraged the people of Samal to endorse the bill. He pushed for the passage of House Bill 1486 for the following reasons: It will bring in foreign investments, it will generate employment and many livelihood opportunities, increase government revenues, improve delivery of basic services and the quality of life of the constituents.
The people of Samal are full of eager anticipation for this great project.
The chairman of the congressional panel, Rep. Red Durano VI, then proceeded to explain the procedure of the hearing and the importance of hearing the different views and opinions of the people of Samal.
After which, he asked for the different groups' resolutions of endorsement.
There was a long line of presenters representing the various groups of stakeholders, clearly indicating that the majority of the Samal decision-makers were very much in favor of the ecozone and free port project.
During the lively open forum that followed, there was nobody who was really against the proposal but a lot of clarifications were asked and some amendments were requested.
To mention a few, here are the salient points brought up:
1. The worry that Samal will become the "smuggling capital of Mindanao" if the tax exemptions and other lenient incentives are abused by the investors.
2. The need to clearly define the roles of the province and the city vis-à-vis the Sisezfa.
3. Balanced membership of the board for check and balance.
4. The proposed initial budget of 2 billion pesos might not be enough.
5. This is a separate law to be enacted, not the same as Peza Law.
All the other questions floated were satisfactorily answered by the author and the other four congressmen at the head table.
Note that this bill, formerly numbered 1998, was already proposed by former Rep. Antonio R. Floirendo during the 13th Congress. It almost hurdled the legislative process but didn't make it before the Senate adjourned.
Perhaps with this in mind, Singson immediately moved for the approval of the project on the committee level at the end of the present hearing. And chairman Rep. Durano, speaking in fluent Cebuano, concluded the hearing with a promise to hasten up the enactment of the law during the current 14th Congress.
The future looks promising for Igacos. There is however a lot of things still to be done. The initial 500-hectare site has to be clearly identified, plus all the social preparations for constituents, governance innovations, and responsible citizenship. Worthwhile development projects need meticulous planning and great sacrifices.
