Ex-guv Espina calls for export zones outside Metro Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Former Cebu governor and senator Rene Espina has called on the newly elected congressmen in Cebu to make export processing zones outside Metro Cebu such as in the cities of Danao, Bogo, Toledo and in the town of Argao.

Espina also proposed the creation of Mactan Island into free port zone to make it the next Singapore.

 Espina renewed his call in a speech during the awarding ceremony of The Outstanding Cebuano Award last Saturday. He was among the awardees in the field of public service.

In his speech, Espina called on the Cebuanos to be united for good and to make Cebu number one again for “economic struggle and livelihood programs”.

“Ang utok sa Cebuano maoy nakapahimo sa Sugbo nga Sugbo, mag-abin kita,” he said. (The Cebuanos’ brains have made Cebu what it is now. Let us unite.)

Last year, Espina already made the call for lawmakers and to the Malacañang for the speedy passage of Cebu Freeport Ecozone Bill into law and for Cebuano politicians to make it as an election platform.

In 2006, returning Cebu City north district Rep. Raul del Mar filed House Bill 5263 establishing the Cebu Freeport.

Former first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas also filed House Bill No. 1319, creating the Cebu Special Ecozone and Free Port and passed to the Senate level during the 14th Congress.

On July 1, 2010, Gullas filed House Bill 91 to declare Cebu province as an economic zone saying that he is serious in pushing this province-wide economic zone proposal for Cebu, as this is his third time to file the same bill in Congress.

Aside from elective posts, Espina was once a minister of public works and highways during the time of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos when the first Mactan-Mandaue Bridge was built.

But in his speech, Espina reminded the Cebuanos that a certain Pascual Racuyal from Tejero, Cebu City got the idea of making a bridge from Mandaue City to Opon (Mactan).

  Racuyal sought the presidency in every Philippine presidential election beginning in 1935 against Manuel Quezon and Emilio Aguinaldo until 1986 against Marcos and Corazon Aquino.

Espina said that no one believed Racuyal about putting the bridge, prompting him to tell Marcos about the idea.

“Cebuanos have great talent, Cebuanos are patriotic, Cebuanos should have also leadership in the national government,” Espina added. — (FREEMAN)