Sen. Grace Poe (File photo from the Senate Social Media Unit)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe has sponsored a bill that will establish the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport or “Bulacan Ecozone” to usher in a “new age of economic opportunities and investments” in the country.
Committee Report No. 209 on Senate Bill No. 2572, which was signed by the majority of members in the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, is now up for plenary deliberations.
Poe, the chair of the committee, said the proposed Bulacan Ecozone would host the new airport being built in the province as part of efforts to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals in Metro Manila.
“Based on submitted calculation, the economic potential of the Bulacan Ecozone will reach around P130.939 billion. And with its continuous development, we expect that it could generate around 800,000 to 1.2 million jobs,” Poe said.
READ: Poe pushes creation of Bulacan Airport City Eco Zone
She added that the bill also addresses the executive department’s concerns. In July 2022, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed a similar bill, citing “substantial fiscal risks to the country.”
According to the Senate committee report, the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority shall manage and operate the ecozone. It will be under the direct control and supervision of the Office of the President.