Ecozone study group finalizes bill analysis

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) ecozone study group completed the detailed study of Cebu’s province wide ecozone bid just in time for the bill to go under the Senate’s scrutiny.

House of Representative economic affairs chairman Representative Ramon H. Durano VI said House Bill No. 1319 or Cebu Economic Development Zone (CEDZ) is expected to face a strong opposition in the Senate and its major proponent must prepare a very strong back-up in defense of the Bill, when it will be discussed in the Senate.

Specific issues will be addressed properly that will include specific figures how the ecozone concept can propel Cebu's economic growth and help provide increase revenue generation to each Local Government Unit (LGU) in the province.

Study Group head Geronimo Sta. Ana said the Cebu private sector, together with the Cebuano representatives who supported the Bill, could only do so much in pushing the bill into law, but if majority of the Senate will oppose it, he said "it's beyond our control."

Anytime from now, Sta. Ana's group, together with some Cebuano Congressmen will conduct a massive information campaign and series of LGU orientations about the bill, and solicit support from the residents in each town and City in the province.

On the other hand, despite the threat of strong opposition in the Senate, Sta. Ana said the Cebu private sector is still confident that it would pass through the Senate and eventually be made into law, which will be the first of its kind in the country.

"We are almost sure that this will pass the House of Representatives, but we may not receive the same sentiment in the Senate," Durano said expressing confidence that the bill can get through the Senate, "but we think it will take time."

 House Bill 1319 already passed through the House's economic affairs committee, of which Durano is chairman, as well as the ways and means and appropriations committees.           

The bill is authored by all the eight congressmen from Cebu and is jointly supported by local business groups.

Durano said he was ready to endorse the bill for deliberations in the plenary hopefully before Congress goes into recess for the Christmas break.

Durano said the Department of Finance opposes the bill, citing the potential revenue losses, especially for local government units.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is also opposing a provision of the bill to declare all of the seaports in Cebu as free ports.

H e said BOC expressed concern how they could monitor all the ports in Cebu. "They [BOC] are okay with the Cebu International Port as a free port," he added.

Durano mentioned that there are currently four other bills in the House of Representatives creating special separate economic zones—Ilocos Sur, Samal Island in Davao, Bataan and Surigao del Sur.

Although Durano himself earlier expressed concern that the country already has too many economic zones, he said each proponent must defend their proposal and why it is viable.

As far as Cebu is concerned Sta. Ana said they are ready to defend the Bill, with two or more studies being readied, in cooperation with international funding agencies such as the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ).

There are already more than 100 Philippine Economic Zone-accredited zones in the country, excluding legislated economic zones, Durano said.

CEDZ or the HB 1319 is backed by the CCCI whose officials said more investors will be coming to the province if the plan pushes through.