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SEN.
Loren Legarda has backed the creation of new special
economic zones to help fast-track rural development,
saying these so-called ecozones are expected to attract
more foreign investments into the country and create
much-needed jobs.
While
acknowledging the potential contributions of economic
zones, Legarda also cautioned there is a need to look
closely into the “necessity, urgency, viability and
feasibility of establishing more economic zones.”
“Economic zones fast-track rural development, create
jobs and lure foreign investments into the country. They
also boost the infrastructure development of their host
and nearby communities as industrial estates require
roads, railways, telephones and ports,” she said.
“It is
in this sense that proponents of the bills creating the
economic zones, which the committee shall review,
promote the establishment of the same to make certain
that areas that need economic activities are made
attractive to investors,” said Legarda in opening
Wednesday’s initial public hearing by the Senate
economic affairs committee on at least eight bills
proposing more special economic zones.
Legarda
herself filed Senate Bill 2218 seeking to convert the
Bataan Economic Zone in Mariveles, Bataan, into the
Bataan Special Economic Zone and Free Port.
At the
same time, the economic affairs committee also opened an
inquiry into the construction of two condominium
buildings by Hanjin in the virgin forest inside the
Subic Bay Freeport Zone, on the strength of Senate
Resolution 32.
After
hearing testimonies from officials of the Subic Bay
Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Legarda reminded the SBMA
and Hanjin Heavy Industries Ltd. on the need to comply
with laws, specifically related to the safety of the
environment that she insisted should be strictly
observed.
She also
requested the Department of the Environment and Natural
Resources to determine compliance with pertinent
environmental laws in the construction of the Hanjin
condominiums and to recommend any necessary action about
them.
Legarda
listed the sites of the economic zones proposed in the
eight bills her committee will pass upon and on which
they will conduct public hearings—Northern Samar,
covering the municipalities of San Jose, Bobon and
Catarman; Surigao del Sur, in the municipalities of
Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza; Sulu,
General Santos, Southern Palawan, and Ilocos Sur.
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