TUBA, Benguet—The municipal government has identified a 50-hectare lot in one of the town’s 13 barangays as a potential site for the expansion of the Baguio City-based Philippine Economic Zone Authority that would help boost the growth and development of this town.
Mayor Ignacio Rivera said the actual location of the site “remains confidential” until Peza officials inspect the site and submit their recommendations for the local government’s consideration.
“It will be Peza management that will make the announcement if the proposed expansion site would suit their requirements. The area is between the mountainous and flat terrains of the locality that is why we are confident that it might be considered for the expansion of the economic zone operations,” Rivera stressed.
The local chief executive said options in other areas are available, but the area found to be the most feasible is the 50-hectare lot in one of the barangays.
If the Peza expansion comes into fruition, the locators can provide employment opportunities for Tuba’s qualified residents, give them new sources of livelihood and boost economic development that will improve the status of the municipality, Rivera said.
Based on the initial assessment of experts, the proposed expansion site has an independent source of potable water for locators, and the area is near various national roads to ensure the speedy delivery of products from the economic zone to their intended markets.
Earlier, Benguet Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan said Peza was looking for a 75- to 100-hectare land in the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay or BLISTT area for its expansion, owing to the enormous growth of locators needing sufficient space for their operations.
Under the PEZA law, local governments hosting an economic zone are entitled to a 40-percent share of the gross receipts within the zone, to be directly remitted to the host communities.
Previously, local governments hosting PEZA operations had to wait a long time before getting their share of the earnings, as locators directly remit to the national government their full tax share before it is divided among the host communities through their Internal Revenue Allotment. Rivera remains optimistic PEZA will consider Tuba for its expansion.