By Bebot Sison Jr. Updated August 03, 2009 12:00 AM [ philstar.com ]
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – The Subic and Clark economic zones will soon be utilizing a unified business permit system designed to further harmonize their business operations and facilitate the entry of more investments in the two free port zones.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator and chief executive officer Armand Arreza said the two free ports will be implementing the Subic-Clark business permit system starting in September this year.
The implementation of the harmonized system was contained in a memorandum of agreement signed last July 22 by the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council (SCADC), Clark Development Corp. (CDC), Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), and the SBMA.
A unified system for the issuance of certificate of registration and tax exemption (CRTE), permit to operate (PTO), and other business permits, in compliance with RA 9485, otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 were also in the agreement.
“It’s the most logical recourse to complement each other and play on each other’s strengths, rather than remain as islands of autonomy and inefficiency,” Arreza told The STAR.
“By complementing each other, Subic and Clark will have the best chances of ever becoming the two most progressive investment sites in the Philippines, as well as globally-competitive logistics and service hubs that President Arroyo has envisioned,” Arreza added.
In a statement, Arreza said the harmonized Subic-Clark business system is part of a strategic program to propel the Philippine economy toward heightened global participation.
Harmonized business operations would also enable Subic and Clark to capitalize on both their US military-built ports and newly-constructed facilities to bolster their bid for economic significance in the Asia-Pacific region, the SBMA official said.
Efforts to turn Subic and Clark into interdependent nodes of development in Central Luzon have been the focus of the SCADC, which is headed by Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan.
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