ROXAS VISITS ILIGAN CITY TOMORROW, PROMOTES MINDANAO FREEPORT

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas will be in Iligan City tomorrow to promote his new bill for a Mindanao freeport that would bring in investments and opportunities for Mindanaoans.

Roxas has filed Senate Bill No. 2580 that would create a Mindanao Special Economic Zone and Freeport, in order to foster development in the area amid the turmoil brought about by recent insurgencies and the uncertainty of the botched GRP-MILF Peace Panel Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain, which had threatened to include Iligan City and other LGUs as part of a Bangsamoro Juridical Entity separate from the Philippines.

"It's a good thing that the MoA has been discontinued, as the administration tells us. Even so, it has brought to light the great injustice in the standard of living of our brothers in the South, for which we must provide as much assistance as possible," he said.

The bill will give the entire Mindanao the same status as other freeports in the country such as in Subic and Clark, where businesses have perks including: income tax holiday, net operating loss carryover, and a 5% gross income tax in lieu of all other taxes except real estate taxes, among other incentives.

Tomorrow morning, Roxas will be at the inauguration of the new feed mill facility of Pilmico Foods Corp. held at the Pilmico Milling Complex, Kiwalan Cove, Dalipuga. Attending the event are Pilmico President and CEO Tony Moraza, Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz, as well as other local officials and businessmen.

"Iligan City is a great example of the private sector teaming with local governments in ensuring food security and a stable economic environment for their community," he said.

He praised Mayor Cruz for his ability to tap businesses to invest in the city and give additional opportunities to its citizens.

"While the nation is faced with a food crisis, Iligan City is finding ways to protect the livelihoods and maintain the productivity of its people. This is something that other LGUs can pick up ideas from for them to succeed as well," he said.

Roxas will also be visiting the evacuation center nearby which holds many thousands who have been forced to move as a result of the ongoing violence done by elements of the MILF.

"The suffering of the people shows the clear need for soldiers to provide sufficient security to make citizens feel safe. If our people feel secure, they won't feel the need to arm themselves, which leads to vigilantism, and more bloodshed," he said.