The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
Senator Marcos disappointed on BBM’S veto of proposed ecozone
SENATOR IMEE Marcos has criticized her brother President Bongbong Marcos for vetoing the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Act, saying the proposed project will boost jobs and will boost the economy.
“We recognize and uphold the President’s prerogative to veto any bill, but are deeply disappointed the Bulacan ecozone has been cancelled. It was our hope to generate much-needed jobs in Bulacan and the Central Luzon countryside, enthused by the prospect of the first microchip burning plant in the Philippines to supply Samsung, Apple, etc. and a potential of $200 billion in annual exports, on top of the P740 billion to be invested in the construction alone of the new airport,” she said.
The solon said in view of this development, and her fervent desire to support her brother’s new administration, she urged the new economic team to stake a clear policy on the creation of new ecozones, which are not prohibited under the CREATE (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises) law.
“Perhaps the LEDAC (Legislative-executive Development Advisory Council) should be convened at the earliest opportunity to provide such guidance.it is my hope that the veto does not have a chilling effect on the potential local and foreign investors, whom we need now more than ever, as our economy struggles to recover from the pandemic,” she said.
Defects
But Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-angeles clarified that the President fully supports the creation of the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport and his decision to veto House Bill 7575 was meant to cure the defects found in the measure.
“Presidential Veto is the fastest way to cure the defects of HB 7575 especially the provision which exempts the Commission on Audit to look into the financial transactions on the special economic zone and Freeport. Had the President not vetoed HB 7575, it would have lapsed into law on July 4 or 30 days after the bill was sent by the legislature to Malacanang,” Angeles pointed out.
Angeles reiterated the proposed measure lacks coherence with existing laws, rules and regulations by failing to provide audit provisions for the Commission on Audit (COA), procedures for the expropriation of lands awarded to agrarian reform beneficiaries and a master plan for the specific metes and bounds of the economic zone.
She said all financial transactions in government are audited by COA and the proposed Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport is no exception.
“Without those necessary amendments indicated in the veto explanation, the law may be vulnerable to constitutional challenge. The delegation of rule-making power on environmental laws which is unique to the special economic zone is of particular concern,” Angeles said.
She also said the construction of the P740-billion international airport in Bulacan will push through as the San Miguel franchise to operate the airport was approved by both the Senate and House on October 11.
“The construction of the Bulacan international airport and aero city is not affected by the veto. The presidential veto was meant to include the necessary corrections and include the missing processes that might render HB 7575 entirely unconstitutional,” she explained.
Angeles maintained the bill did not provide procedures for expropriation of lands awarded to agrarian reform beneficiaries and granted “blanket powers” to the economic zone authority to handle technical airport operations, which would violate aeronautical laws.
She also pointed out that the proposed ecozone would be located near the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga province that borders Bulacan which runs against government policy on creating special economic zones in strategic locations.
San Miguel Corporation, one of the country’s biggest conglomerates, is investing P740 billion to turn a 2,500-hectare property in Bulacan into an aerotropolis featuring a world-class gateway capable of handling 100 million passengers annually, plus an adjacent urban and industrial hub. (Mindanao Examiner)