I am excited to listen once more to the President’s coming SONA this month.
And just last May, PBBM made mention of a positive development for the country when he said that “various economic zones in the country are open to all foreign investors” and encouraged foreign companies to seize the healthy climate for business and trade opportunities from economic zones now in full operation under his administration.
The special economic zones offer one common tax code and incentive scheme, which means that locator companies need not deal with every single local government unit. (LGU) any longer. Further, the US and Japan have committed to provide millions of dollars in funding Philippine projects for infrastructure and technology, which includes the development of the Luzon Economic Corridor.
For PBBM’s SONA, I hope he mentions the positive developments currently happening in CEZA and honors its living author of R.A. 7922, otherwise known as the “Cagayan Special Economic Zone Act of 1995” or “an act establishing a special economic zone and free port in the municipality of Sta. Ana, Cagayan and the neighboring islands in the municipality of Aparri, province of Cagayan.”
And no less than his Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile who at 100, still attends cabinet meetings and advises the president on important matters for the country. CEZA is a vast 54,000 hectare future-proof special economic zone and free port in the crossroads of the Asia-Pacific Region with a dedicated international seaport surrounded by lush green mountain views, with 40-kilometer white sand beaches and over 32,000 hectares of protected areas.
Its current Administrator and CEO Secretary Katrina Ponce Enrile (JPE’s daughter) reports directly to the President since CEZA is under the Office of the President and has secured a memorandum to facilitate other government functions like customs clearance, environmental compliance, and land use allocation.
CEZA is the first regulated interactive gaming jurisdiction in Asia, being a destination for investors seeking opportunities in the fast-growing industries of fintech and blockchain technology.
So, it would be nice to listen to the President’s SONA this July and here’s hoping he gives tribute to the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority and to its author, 100-year old statesman, centenarian, and icon of Philippine history Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile.
Mr. Kingmaker and his narcissistic gall
It certainly leaves a bad taste in the mouth to many people on the book title ‘Kingmaker” describing former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez.
From a previous column, I mentioned that not even the better Executive Secretaries Juan ‘Johnny’ Tuvera and Jacobo ‘Jake’ Clave could have had the narcissistic gall to name a book about themselves like this one.
Nope, not them. But this short-lived stint (just 3 months) of Vic Rodriguez as ES just went straight to his head, didn’t it?
In addition, not even Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile would have thought of naming his memoirs “Kingmaker” even if such a title fits him just well.
But not Vic. In his insatiable lust for more executive powers, he even tried to bestow upon himself more of what he already had as Presidential Chief of Staff.
But the unparalleled wisdom of the sage JPE frowned upon this which prompted President Marcos to nip him in the bud. Thus, the sour-graping Rodriguez shifted the direction of his wind which just turned into gas as he joined the opposition.
From a brown-nosing act to a former President, he is now hallucinating to be the lead lawyer for the oppositionists from the Duterte camp.
Delimagogue
I hate to say this but, Leila de Lima is out for a huge revenge. She is preparing to file counter-charges against those who persecuted her politically under the regime of Rodrigo Duterte.
She believes that Duterte has an axe to grind against her because of her role as Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission (CHR) which investigated the Davao Death Squad under the cruel hands of Duterte.
She said that her persecution and detention for nearly seven years on charges of drug trafficking has given her a new insight on the justice system in the country and that the former president’s “war on drugs” has killed thousands of people who could have been reformed with the proper guidance and programs.
Instead, the police under Duterte opted to just finish them off mercilessly. Remember the time when she was held hostage by an inmate at gunpoint but claims her prayers have saved her from further harm and sure death.
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Random Memorandum: Owners of balete trees know that the tikbalang is believed to reside in them. Also known as the banyan tree, the tree is feared because it is often associated with enchanted beings and paranormal activities. The tree is a portal to other dimensions.
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Factoid: Ramon Magsaysay is one of the most loved Philippine Presidents. An estimated 5 million people attended his burial on march 31, 1957, and he is considered as the “idol of the masses.” During his term, he made Malacanang Palace literally a “house of the people” by opening its gates to the public.
(Leslie Bocobo is a former Special Assistant to the Secretary at the Office of the Press Secretary, Malacanang, and a former Public Affairs Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources)
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