Bohol Special Ecozone bill heading for Senate

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines – Bohol 3rd district Representative Arthur Yap said that his bill, establishing a special economic zone in the province, already passed the House committee on appropriations and is now set for deliberations at the plenary and then the Senate.

Yap said his bill, known as the Bohol Special Economic Zone Act of 2014, is aimed at creating the Bohol Special Economic Zone Authority, with its principal office in Jagna town, and appropriating funds for the purpose.

The BEZA shall cover certain areas of Jagna, and that a presidential proclamation is needed later to define its “specific meters and bounds.” Yap said it may also establish liaison offices within the Philippines as may be necessary for the proper conduct of its business.

The Bohol congressman said BEZA will manage and operate the Bohol Ecozone, under a 50-year franchise, starting from the year of its effectivity unless extended by Congress. It shall be organized within 180 days after the proposed measure takes effect, he said.

Yap said the other functions of BEZA would be to register, regulate and supervise the businesses inside the Ecozone, and issues certificates of origin for products manufactured or processed inside the area.

It shall also authorize or undertake, on its own or through others, and regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of public utilities (power and water), services and infrastructure in the Bohol Ecozone such as seaports and airport operations, in coordination with concerned agencies, he said.

Yap also proposed in his bill that “the private investors in the Bohol Ecozone shall be given priority in the awarding of contracts, franchises, licenses, or permits for the establishment, operation and maintenance of utilities, services and infrastructure.”