By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – In its 147th meeting held in Isabela City, Basilan, the Regional Development Council (RDC)-9 unanimously endorsed a resolution of its Economic Development Committee (EDCom) on the proposed construction of the ZamboEcozone International Cargo Terminal.
Pedro Rufu N. Soliven, EDCom-9 chairperson said that of all free ports in the country the ZamboEcozone is the only freeport without a port.
Soliven said that with the increasing passenger and cargo vessel traffic in Zamboanga City, the establishment of ZamboEcozone International Cargo Terminal would ease the port congestion in the Port of Zamboanga. It will exclusively cater to local and international cargo vessels.
He reported that in 2012, the volume of foreign cargo in Zamboanga City is 140,776 tons while local cargo is 2,598,782 tons.
“The presence of an international cargo terminal in the ZAMBOECOZONE will result in an influx of export oriented industries,” he said.
The proposed ZamboEcozone International Cargo Terminal will be constructed at the ZamboEcozone Second Industrial Park. It is similar in scope but smaller compared to the ports of Singapore and Hong Kong.
With the strategic location of the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority and Freeport (ZAMBOECOZONE), the ZamboEcozone International Cargo Terminal is also intended to function as the transshipment hub for the BIMP-EAGA region.
The project cost for its construction amounts to P3.01 billion.
Moreover, RDC-9 also approved the EDCom resolution endorsing the FY 2015 Budget Proposal of the ZamboEcozone. The guidelines in the preparation of FY 2015 GOCC (government-owned and controlled corporation) budget proposals require RDC’s endorsement and consultation with civil society organizations.
Soliven said the EDCom-9 reviewed and deliberated on the priority programs and projects of ZamboEcozone for FY 2015, and endorsed the same after finding these supportive of the priorities and thrusts of the updated Zamboanga Peninsula Regional Development Plan.
ZamboEcozone is a GOCC, which was created by virtue of Republic Act 7903, signed into law by former President Fidel V. Ramos on Feb. 23, 1995.