THE Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cebu Inc. (JCCICI) is on a “wait-and-see” mode as it looks for clear guidance on the planned relocation of Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ) locators.
“Since my factory is also located inside MEZ 1, I’ve been taking the situation seriously since the time when this issue has come up,” said Ken Iwakami, secretary general of JCCICI and president of Cebu Iwakami Corp., which operates as a rubber maker and sub-assembler of camera parts in Cebu.
The chamber is waiting for further developments as the “situation has not yet become clear,” Iwakami told SunStar Cebu when sought for comment on the issue.
The Japanese business group is seeking for a clear rhetoric, following a statement of Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) warning possible business losses of P150 billion if the relocation pushes through, to pave the way for the second runway construction at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
Earlier, Peza director general Charito Plaza said they have not been formally and officially presented with the airport’s proposal.
The state-run MCIA Authority had bared a proposal to turn a reclamation area into a “smart city,” which will be the new home for ecozone locators. It will have direct access to a proposed cargo terminal in the airport.
“At the very least, no details have been provided where and how the locators will be relocated (or compensated, if at all),” Plaza said in a memorandum. “Not having received a written, comprehensive and detailed proposal from the MCIAA, there is nothing in the Peza’s table to officially consider,” the memorandum said.
Construction of the second runway and the proposed reclamation are seen to be completed in seven to 10 years.
Plaza asserted the proposal caused jitters among the MEZ locators.
The proposed relocation of MEZ locators and MCIAA’s use of the MEZ area as the site for its second runway is an unsolicited proposal that forms part of the airport authority’s 50-year Integrated Development Plan.
Peza has assured MEZ locators it will work to ensure they “stay and flourish where they are” and that their “operations remain peaceful and undisturbed.” Currently, JCCICI has 138 member companies, about 99 of them are firms registered with Peza. (CSL)