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Sunday, September 11, 2005
Senator gives sigh of relief to Clark investors, workers
CLARK ECOZONE -- The multi-sectoral groups from the province and nearby Tarlac expressed gratitude to Senator Ralph Recto for sponsoring Joint Resolution No. 9 that would rectify and honor the government's commitment in upholding the tax and duty-free incentives at the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ).
The Clark Investors and Locators Association (Cila) were given a respite after Recto promised to sponsor the joint resolution following President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's certification of the bill as urgent last week.
There more than 400 investors inside the ecozone threatened to pull out from Clark if no remedial measure would be undertaken to rectify the law granting similar tax and duty free incentives being given to Subic Bay Freeport Zone and other similar economic zones in the country.
Aside from the investors' anxiety over the high tribunal rulings, more than 36,000 workers in Clark and their families and several thousands more who indirectly draw income from corollary businesses in transportation, food and beverages, tourism and trade, would be affected if the government would remove the tax and duty-free privileges of the investors and locators inside the ecozone.
The high court nullified the said incentives based on the Section 5 of Executive Order No. 8 as well as Section 4 of the Bases Conversion Development Authority Board Resolution No. 93-05-032, which allowed Clark to grant the same privileges available in Subic.
Aside from Cila, other groups that have expressed gratitude to Recto were the Provincial Governments of Tarlac and Pampanga, Central Luzon Media Association (CLMA), Pampanga Press Club (PPC), Angeles City Press and Radio Club (ACPRC), Association of Clark Development Corporation Concern Employees (Acess), among others.
Public Relations manager Angelo C. Lopez, Jr. of Clark Development Corporation said that Recto would give priority to Joint Resolution No. 9, which was originally authored by House Speaker Jose de Venecia and signed by 157 members of the House of Representatives.
Recto told Lopez that he would fully support the plight of the investors and the workers in Clark, so as to rectify the flaws in the Republic Act 7227 on the granting of tax privileges to Clark.
In the letter of President Arroyo to Senate President Franklin Drilon, it was stated that "Pursuant to the provisions of Article VI, Section 26 (2) of the 1987 Constitution, I hereby certify to the necessity of the immediate enactment of House of Representative Joint Resolution No. 9."
The President said the joint resolution is necessary "to address the urgent need to prevent the loss of huge investments in the country by assuring the anxious investors in Clark that incentives already granted would be fully respected."
(September 11, 2005 issue)
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