Gullas vows to strongly push the Cebu-wide ecozone bid

CEBU, Philippines - As the original author of the Cebu province-wide economic zone proposal, Cebu first district Representative Eduardo Gullas made a vow to Cebuanos that he will continue to push the realization of the bid.

“I will continue with the advocacy because I believe in the validity of the idea,” Gullas told The Freeman yesterday.

Gullas made this pronouncement following the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (CCCI) undecided state, whether to pursue and continue to seek the help from other Cebuano Congressmen to re-file the Cebu Economic Development Zone (CEDZ) proposal or the House Bill No. 1319.

Nevertheless, Gullas has already gone ahead and filed House Bill 91, declaring Cebu province as an economic zone in the first day of 15th Congress on July 1, 2010.

Gullas reiterated that he is serious in pushing this province-wide economic zone proposal for Cebu, in fact this is already the third time that he filed the same bill in Congress.

Gullas filed a similar bill in the Congress, even before the joint CEDZ or House Bill No. 1319 was filed and passed to the Senate level during the 14th Congress.

He crafted and filed a similar bill in the 13th Congress (2004-2007), in his vision to make Cebu a more competitive investment destination.

In the 14th Congress, a joint and collaborative effort of passing the Bill with the CCCI and all Cebuano Congressmen, including him to further push the passage of the concept into law.

Although, CCCI is still undecided if it were going to pursue its plan to initiate the re-filing the same bill with the help of some Cebuano Congressmen this time, Gullas vowed that “I’ll give it my best shot. I sincerely believe this is the best for Cebu.”

Technically, CCCI is not the main proponent of the CEDZ bill, he explained.

“The idea of making the entire Cebu province as an economic zone, including its two islands-- Bantayan and Camotes was conceived by me. I want to put the truth on its proper light,” Gullas clarified.

He admitted though that this proposal will again go through a very difficult journey. However, is he is determined to continue with his advocacy and promised not to stop fighting.

The Congressman said that Cebu has all the merits becoming a province-wide economic zone.

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.

Gullas expressed his strong determination to take on the fight, and sincerely hopes that other Congressmen, who wanted to make Cebu a world-class investment destination, will join with him.

Just like his advocacy to provide Cebu with the LRT (Light Rail Transit), Gullas said he is also passionate in pursuing the realization of the provide-wide ecozone proposal although it means a tougher fight--only to make Cebu a truly world-class province.