By NONOY E. LACSON
August 29, 2010, 3:06pm
JOLO, Sulu – With an ultimate goal of promoting and to hasten the industrial, economic and social development of the province, Rep. Nur Anna Sahidulla (2nd District, Sulu) has filed House Bill (HB) 02519, seeking to establish an Economic Zone (ecozone) and Freeport in this capital town.
Sahidulla said the establishment of an economic zone and freeport in Sulu province is an essential in order to promote the economic and industrial advancements of the province and its people.
The presence of the zone here would eventually contribute in uplifting the present economy of Sulu, improve the present peace and order condition of the province, and at the same time, will bail out its people from poverty.
She said the zone is expected to offer at least 10,000 new jobs to the people of the province and to the nearby provinces of Tawi-Tawi and Basilan.
“If this thing happens, our people here would no longer go to the mountain and fight the government as what some of them are doing now, since they will now become busy in rendering services at the zone” the Sulu lady solon said.
“Uplifting the present economic living condition of our people in Sulu is one of the solutions in putting to an end the insurgency problem in the province,” Sahidulla said.
“Clearly...necessary measures are needed to promote the economic and industrial advancements in the area. This bill answers the need for development in the area through the creation of a special economic zone and freeport,” she explained.
She said the zone will be managed and operated by the Sulu Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (SSEZA) headed by a board of directors.
The Secretary of the Department Trade and Industry (DTI), the Director General of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) or their respective representatives will serve as ex-officio members of the board.
The zone will also allow foreign individuals and organizations to become locators at the zone and will be granted incentives such as resident status visa, fiscal incentives, and tax exemptions.
In order to attract domestic and foreign investors, the zone will also provide the necessary transportation, telecommunication facilities, and other facilities needed to attract legitimate and productive foreign investments, Sahidulla said.
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/274729/sulu-freeport-zone-mulled
