Durano pushes ecozones bill

REP. RAMON “Red” Durano of Cebu’s 5th district Durano is again pushing a bill in Congress that would establish more economic zones in the province.

Durano, who chairs the House committee on economic affairs, said he would refile House Bill No. 1319, which seeks to create the Cebu Economic Development Zone (CEDZ).

In a press conference in Danao City, Durano said the bill would ensure more foreign investments in Cebu due to tax holidays and other incentives offered to locators.

Durano filed the bill last Feb. 21, 2008. It is set for discussion by the committee on appropriations and ways and means because of its tax provisions.

Meanwhile, Durano appealed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to resolve the Compostela election dispute that has dragged on for more than a year.

A new OIC mayor assumed the post yesterday but Durano said “a caretaker cannot address immediately the concerns of barangay captains and the constituents. We cannot implement any projects because there is no council to approve it.”

Ananias Villacorta, incoming regional director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-7), yesterday assumed the post of OIC mayor of the town.

Villacorta, who paid a courtesy call on Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia last Wednesday, said he may ask Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to appoint an interim DILG official to act as caretaker of Compostela while he orients himself in his new post.

Compostela town in north Cebu was left with no mayor and municipal council last year after mayoralty candidate Ritchie Wagas filed an election protest against mayor-elect Joel Quino and the rest of his municipal council.

“I am hopeful within the year that Comelec could come up with a resolution,” Durano said.

Compostela town will be forced to reenact its 2009 budget of P56 million instead of passing a new budget for 2012.

In a phone interview, outgoing DILG-7 Regional Director Pedro Noval said he met with department heads last month to discuss their needs in the face of a reenacted budget.

Noval was the former caretaker mayor of Compostela town until he was reassigned to DILG-8 in Tacloban City.  Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus