Ilocos Sur girds for own ecozone

CABUGAO, Ilocos Sur — The groundwork has been laid out for the Ilocos Sur special economic and freeport zone being eyed in this northern town.

A consulting firm, SCHEMA Konsult Inc., has been given 10 weeks to finish the feasibility study on the special ecozone, said Undersecretary Hermenegildo Dumlao, head of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Commission (Northquad).

Dumlao said his office is closely collaborating with the consulting firm.

Northquad earlier had signed an agreement for the feasibility study with SCHEMA led its president, Rufino Elefano.

At a stakeholders’ meeting-cum-workshop held here last Friday, Ilocos Sur first district Rep. Salacnib Baterina reported that the Senate would soon pass his bill seeking to establish the special ecozone which the House of Representatives had approved.

Among those who attended the meeting were Vice Gov. Deogracias Savellano, who represented Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson; San Juan Mayor Bernardo Sarmiento, and Cabugao Vice Mayor Rex Morales, who all gave their inputs on the proposed ecozone.     

Dumlao said the ecozone project is in support of President Arroyo’s development agenda.

He said Cabugao’s Salomague port is strategically located along the main international shipping route of Asia and is "geographically proximate" to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Kaohsiung, China.

"It is envisioned as an alternative port to Subic and Manila for the import-export trade, linking Northern Luzon to the Taiwan-southern China-Hong Kong Growth Triangle and providing access to the transshipment market of countries like Japan and South Korea," he said.

He said the other northern provinces of Benguet, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Abra and Pangasinan would greatly benefit from the planned ecozone.