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Friday, September 23, 2005
Town backs Clark tax perks initiatives
By Reynaldo G. Navales
THE Municipal Government of Mabalacat is supporting the popular call to uphold tax incentives for locators inside the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ).
The Municipal Council, through Resolution No. 604, urges Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Jose de Venecia to expedite the passage of Joint Resolution No. 09.
The resolution, sponsored by Senator Ralph Recto, would uphold and honor the government's commitment to grant tax and duty-free incentives for investors inside the economic zone.
The tax privileges being enjoyed in CSEZ are based on Section 5 of Executive Order (EO) No. 80 as well as Section 4 of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) Board Resolution No. 93-05-032.
However, a Supreme Court (SC) ruling dated July 29, 2005 has nullified the bases and disallowed the granting of tax privileges available at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
The Municipal Council resolution, sponsored by Councilor Jerry Basilio, stated that "the High Tribunal's decision has put in grave peril the standing of CSEZ as major investment and employment center in Central Luzon."
"At stake are not only the plight of foreign and local investors but also the livelihood of 36,000 CSEZ workers, their families and thousands more who directly draw incomes from corollary businesses in transportation, food and beverage, tourism, among others," the resolution said.
It also said "the SC ruling brings to fore the need for legislative remedy, which Congress has the sole power, as regards the granting of tax incentives inside the Clark ecozone.
Mayor Marino Morales said several groups already manifested support to the call, including the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC), Pampanga Mayors League (PML) and others.
He said more than 8,000 Clark workers from the town would lose their jobs once investors pull out from the ecozone.
(September 23, 2005 issue)
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