Cebu-wide ecozone plan counters Sugbuak cause

While some political leaders in Cebu strongly pushed for the "Sugbu-ak" bills, the business sector is on the other hand working hard to keep the "united" Cebu through its Cebu Ecozone Proposal.

"This Ecozone proposal could be a unifying factor for all of us," said Cebu Ecozone Study chairman Gerry Sta. Ana.

Amid the brewing issue of "Sugbu-ak" which is largely expected to hamper the realization of the proposal, the business sector through the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is not losing hope instead it decided to actively pursue this project, which some described as very "ambitious."

In fact, because of the projected economic boost in the province if this project will materialized, the German government through the German Technical Cooperation or GTZ extended its support with budget allocation of 10,000 to 20,000 Euro or roughly P600 thousand to P1.2 million for the study.

"We are going to make sure that whatever the result of the study will be, could well back up the expected criticisms, and further review by the higher authorities in the government," said CCCI president Francis O. Monera.

According to Monera, the chamber has not discounted the fact that the project could bring controversies and possible blockage in the national scene and to some law makers, as this is the first proposal of its kind being pursued by the private sector in the Philippines (so far).

However, these negative realities to push the project, has not discouraged the chamber to call it (Ecozone proposal) quits, rather push it further.

Initially, different groups in the private sector have extended their support to the project, such as the Multinational Companies (MNCs) operating in Cebu, especially the IT sector, and rural bankers.

Also, the Cebu provincial government led by Governor Gwen Garcia has expressed its support to the project.

Monera added that the study would also explore on a "win-win situation" for the Local Government Units (LGUs), and the private sector. So that, the project would not mean a huge loss of tax revenues, but push revenue improvement at the same time providing incentives to investors.

Immediately, after the CCCI inked a memorandum of Agreement with GTZ to start an extensive and comprehensive study on the proposal, provincial board member Juan Bolo entered into the picture and called the attention of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to make their own study on the environmental impact if the entire Cebu Province will be transformed into an economic zone.

According to Bolo, the establishment of economic zones always carries with it an adverse impact on the environment, adding that industrial zones carry with them the concomitant harried economic activity and there is a possibility that the authorities will take for granted the implementation of laws protecting the environment.

The chamber had informally informed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on this proposal during one of her visits in Cebu this year. The President reportedly welcomed the idea, but told CCCI's Monera to work closely with the LGUs on this matter.