JV Ejercito optimistic about economic boost with new Bulacan Airport City Ecozone and Freeport Area bill
January 31, 2024
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito lauded the
proposed legislations on Bulacan Airport City Ecozone and Freeport Area as
“exciting and game-changing,” as it would generate an economic boom.
Currently, the Bulacan Ecozone bill has three
versions filed in the Senate by Senate President Miguel Zubiri, Majority Leader
Joel Villanueva, and Senator Imee Marcos.
“It will maximize the planned Bulacan
International Airport and generate an economic boom,” Ejercito said during a
hearing held by the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday, Jan. 31.
The lawmaker from San Juan emphasized that
airports are not just transportation hubs but bustling centers of economic
activity. He compared them to successful places like the retail markets near
Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C., or the booming logistics centers near Hong
Kong International Airport and Incheon Airport in Seoul.
As an advocate for infrastructure development,
Ejercito believes these bills will also reduce congestion in Metro Manila,
create opportunities in rural areas, and stimulate economic development not
only in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao but also in Central Luzon, Northern
Luzon, and other regions.
“Sa halip na po na tayo ay nabibinbin sa
problema in a divisive activity like Charter change, ito ‘yung mga dapat nating
pinagtutuunan ng pansin.”
On July 2, 2022, President Ferdinand
“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vetoed the proposed Bulacan Airport City Special Economic
Zone and Freeport Act. In his message of veto, the President highlighted that
certain provisions of the bill present fiscal risks to the country and
contradict the mandates and authorities of other agencies.
Recognizing the contentious provisions,
Ejercito hopes to address these issues this time and has expressed full support
for the passage of the bill.
Ejercito also expressed gratitude to San
Miguel Corporation for their contributions to the Philippine government through
public-private partnership projects.
“This is the energy of the private sector
which we need to engage and not strangle with regulation. Maging San Miguel
man, o maliit na negosyo, let’s roll out the red carpet and slash the red
tape.“
In
December, President Marcos enacted the PPP Code, a law principally sponsored
and authored by Ejercito. This Code aims to speed up vital infrastructure
projects, improve the ease of doing business, and create more job opportunities
for Filipinos.