Palace: PBBM to support ecozone bill after ‘corrections’ made

MANILA – Malacañang on Monday stated that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will completely support a legislation creating a special economic zone and freeport close to the proposed airport city in Bulacan province once the Congress “corrects” provisions that pose significant fiscal risks to the country.

“He does say he is fully supportive of this. And so in fact this is — it is his commitment to sharpen the law so that when this is indeed passed, then he can fully support it,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in her first regular Palace press briefing.

This, after Senator Imee Marcos voiced concern that the decision of her brother to veto the measure could deter foreign investors.

“We understand their feelings of disappointment but this is the stand of the President. Let’s fix this now so we don’t wait for it to be challenged later on,” Cruz-Angeles said.

She maintained that the legislation must be “sharpened” and warned that if Marcos had not vetoed the bill, its implementation would have been subject to “further delays”.

“Well, the Palace merely says that the law has to be sharpened. We have to make anticipations of possible constitutional challenges on this one. It will cause further delays if the law is challenged and invalidated. So, this is the best way to address the problems, the innate problems of the House bill, and it gives an opportunity for the legislature to make those corrections,” she added.

Cruz-Angeles did not provide a clear response when asked if Marcos would certify the measure as urgent, but he reiterated his desire for provisions to be sharpened.

“There’s no indication of such certification, but the importance is evident in the explanation of the veto that he merely wants these things to be sharpened. An approval of this law might result in a delay of its implementation because it might be challenged. So, that’s how important it is for him that a law is more finely crafted in relation to those matters that he has raised. So, that is how he articulates the importance of this bill,” she said.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs during the 18th Congress, Imee pushed for the approval of House Bill (HB) 7575, also known as the proposed Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Act.

She had voiced alarm that the vote could cause foreign investors to reconsider their decision to invest in the Philippines.

She acknowledged, however, that the President has the authority to veto any proposed legislation.

Marcos rejected HB 7575 in his veto statement due to measures that “pose significant fiscal risks to the country” and “infringement on or conflict with other agencies’ mandates and authorities.”

“At the foreground, fiscal prudence must be exercised particularly at times when resources are scarce and needs are abundant. While this administration recognizes the objective of the proposed measure to accelerate economic growth in its locality, I cannot support the bill,” he said in a letter dated July 1 and addressed to the Senate President and House Speaker.

The enrolled bill, according to Marcos, “lacks coherence with existing laws, rules, and regulations,” as it lacks provisions for an audit by the Commission on Audit, procedures for expropriation of lands awarded to agrarian reform beneficiaries, and a master plan for the specific boundaries of the economic zone.

The proposed bill, he added, grants the proposed economic zone authority “rule-making powers relative to environmental protection that is not found in the charter of other economic zones,” including “blanket powers to handle technical airport operations in contravention of existing aeronautical laws”.

Marcos stated that the proposed economic zone is “in close proximity” to the Clark Special Economic Zone, which is “contrary to government policy regarding the creation of special economic zones in strategic locations.”