Michael Medina
Online editor
OZAMIZ CITY: SECOND district Rep. Herminia “Hermie” Ramiro is not about to end her term without leaving a legacy to the Misamisnons. This, as she revealed in an interview with Misamis Probe that economic development is in the offing for her constituents in the coming three years.
Ramiro disclosed that she is set to file when Congress opens a house bill that will create the Misamis Occidental Special Economic Zone (MOSEZ) with Ozamiz and Tangub cities as target sites.
In explaining her plan, the congresswoman said that she would duplicate the success of the Mactan Economic Zone and other similar industrial zones being developed around the country.
She added that she will request each of the involved local government unit to set aside 100 hectares of land for such purpose.
She estimated that the said area, when developed and fully activated, will have a return of at least P1-billion in income as well as generate employment opportunities to residents.
“We are putting industrial component to these cities in order for them to grow and be self-sufficient. We will create values on farmers and give sustainable economic development to the province,” Ramiro stressed.
Such an idea of putting up MOSEZ in Ozamiz, for example, is easily attainable, according to Ramiro, because of several factors: the newly renovated Benigno Aquino Airport in Gango, the P200-million expanded seaport, complete electrical and water facilities provided by the Misamis Occidental Electric Cooperative Inc. (MOELCI) and Misamis Occidental Water District (MOWD) and the huge pool of manpower resources.
With the completion of the P25-million Ozamiz City By-Pass Road traversing San Roque to Malaubang, Ramiro hopes the leadership of Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog will consider allocating the coastal area of the said barangay and its surrounding public lots for the special economic zone.
Another big factor in the realization of MOSEZ in the soon to be constructed Panguil Bay Bridge Project, which will connect Silanga, Tangub City to Aloha, Tubod Lanao Del Norte.
With Ramiro during the interview is legal consultant and lawyer Robert “Baraks” Cantago Jr., who said that the congresswoman is likewise eyeing on creating an agency that will be tasked to receive mandate from the erstwhile Philippine Economic Zone Authority.
The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 7916) “actively encourage, promote, induce and accelerate a sound and balanced industrial, economic and social development of the country in order to provide jobs to the people especially those in the rural areas, increase their productivity and their individual and family income, and thereby improve the level and quality of their living condition through the establishment, among others, of special economic zones in suitable and strategic locations in the country and through measures that shall effectively attract legitimate and productive foreign investments.”