Singson seeks support for bill establishing Ilocos Sur freeport, ecozone

Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson is seeking support for his legislative proposal to create a freeport and an economic zone in the northern Luzon province.

Singson explained that the bill, which is sponsored in the Upper Chamber by Sen. Miguel Zubiri, the Cagayan Freeport at Port Irene should the Ilocos Sur Freeport be established.

There are reports that Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who is from Cagayan province, is opposed to the bill. Port Irene is the only declared freeport in the North. The STAR tried to get Enrile’s reaction but the lawmaker could not be reached.

“China is booming. Being the nearest to China, Ilocos Sur should benefit from the spillover effect of China’s booming economy,” Singson said.

In establishing the freeport at Port Salomague in Cabugao town, the son of former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson is upbeat it would attract foreign and domestic investors to the province.

“I don’t think that we should be deprived of the opportunity,” he said.

In allaying Enrile’s apprehension over allegedly losing investors in Cagayan should Salomague be declared a freeport, Singson offered to sign an agreement that Ilocos Sur will not resort to “cannibalism.”

“We will not accept or allow Port Irene locators to set up base at the Salomague Port,” he explained.

The House of Representatives had earlier passed Singson’s bill establishing the Cabugao Freeport and a special economic zone authority. Zubiri’s similar measure is being tackled at a committee chaired by Sen. Loren Legarda.

Ilocos Sur Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano had earlier spearheaded local support for the measure with the provincial board, passing a resolution urging the enactment of the bill.

Singson said the market for investors who would be lured by tax holidays or incentives offered by freeports is wide enough adding that there would be enough locators for every freeport.

“There are a lot of investors. The market is global, the trend is globalization. The nation as a whole will benefit (from freeport activities),” he said.

“In Ilocos Sur, we have all the ingredients to make it work: political will, peace and order, highly skilled, trained and industrious workforce, and government support,” the lawmaker said.

Savellano disclosed that in his trips to China, he met several groups of businessmen who have expressed desire to locate in Ilocos Sur should the freeport and ecozone be put in place.

“They are greatly interested, that’s why they keep communicating with me,” he said.

He added the impact to the province’s economy of the ecozone and freeport would be tremendous, citing boost to employment, tourism, trade of local products and other items.