Durano supports the refilling of the Cebu ecozone proposal

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu fifth district Representative Ramon “Red” H. Durano VI supports the refiling of the Cebu Economic Development Zone (CEDZ) proposal in Congress this year, saying this bill can provide good economic future for the province.

Durano said although this controversial bid has been the center of criticisms from various sectors and lately from Cebu South District Congressman Tomas R. Osmeña, it has good chances of getting passed into law for as long as the proponent, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), will strengthen the backup features of the proposal.

Durano, who was the chairman for economic affairs in the House of Representatives in the last Congress, hopes that majority of the Congressmen from Cebu would still support the re-filing of the bill.

He said it was during his chairmanship in the economic affairs of the House of Representative that the CEDZ proposal was approved and endorsed to the Senate.

 “We saw it as the stronger tool to attract investors in the whole of Cebu. It will also develop places where investors don’t normally explore,” Durano said.

 Durano however said that aside from asking the support of the Cebuano representatives, gaining the support of the different local government units is also very vital.

 “Personally, I see it as a very challenging proposal. More Mayors will be demanding for public hearing,” Durano said.

While CCCI still has to meet with the board and other chamber officials on what do with the proposal, Durano said CCCI has to encourage Cebuano Congressmen to file the proposal anew.

Osmeña recently expressed his strong opposition of the proposal saying that if CEDZ, under the House Bill No. 1319, will be passed into law, the entire Cebu will be under the “chamber’s” management.

This time he said because taxes are not anymore the main revenue because of the economic zone law, ‘there will be no more policemen, only security guards.”

According to Osmeña the business sector should also consider how the national government policies will affect Cebu.

CCCI is the proponent of the CEDZ or the House Bill 1319. 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).

House Bill 1319, creating the Cebu Special Ecozone and Free Port, already passed through the House’s economic affairs committee, of which Durano was the chairman.

The province-wide ecozone bid of Cebu was conceptualized during the leadership of Francis O. Monera at the CCCI, couple of years back. (THE FREEMAN)