CEBU, Philippines - House Committee on Economic Affairs chairman Ramon “Red” Durano is amenable to the decision of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) to re-file the Cebu Economic Development Zone (CEDZ) Bill, as it has already become “controversial”.
Durano, who was one of the Cebuano Congressmen that supported the bill, said that it is wise for the bill’s proponent, the CCCI to re-file it and also make some amendments in order to lessen controversies and opposition, especially from the Senate level and revenue collecting agencies of the government.
Significantly, since the Bill has not been introduced elaborately to the local executives in Cebu, there are also a lot of oppositions from the local level, especially in the revenue collection aspect.
“If ever there is an amendment, it should be the five percent tax in the PEZA law, the LGUs should get considerable share,” Durano said.
Aside from opposition from the upper level in the Senate and other government agencies like Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Customs (BoC), Department of Finance and Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Durano said the bill, still has to be properly introduced to the local government unit executives in Cebu, and make them fully understand the benefits of it.
“I think the bill lacks proper consultation, LGUs should have been consulted first,” Durano said.
The CEDZ is envisioned to be a paradigm of an effective and functioning Public-Private Sector Partnership with the private sector taking the lead and government providing infrastructure and institutional support and contributing part of the needed resources.
The bill is authored by all of the eight congressmen from Cebu and is jointly supported by local business groups including international funding groups, like the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ).
However, earlier CCCI president Sam Chioson announced that the chamber have decided to re-file the bill in the next congress, although it is now in the Senate.
Chioson said due to time constraint, it is better for the Bill proponent to file it all over again, than taking the risk in pushing it now, with very limited time, and everybody is busy with the upcoming election.
Despite this very difficult “journey” in pushing Cebu as the premier investment destination by declaring the entire province as an Economic Zone, Chioson said the business sector will not surrender the fight.
Although a lot of provinces in the Philippines have also made their own proposal to make their own province-wide economic zone bid, project chairman Anastacio Muntuerto Jr., earlier said that Cebu being the first to propose this concept to the Congress and eventually now passed at the Senate, will always have its edge.
“We always tell them that we don’t surrender. We have to fight for this,” said Muntuerto.
According to Chioson the Chamber will once again ask the support from the new set of Cebuano Congressmen after the election, in order to continue with the fight. (FREEMAN NEWS)