“Information technology and business are becoming inextricably interwoven. I don’t think anybody can talk meaningfully about one without the talking about the other.” –Bill Gates
If there is anything Ilonggos should pride themselves on it is the Information Technology Center Special Economic Zone (Ecozone), which President Rodrigo Duterte created via presidential proclamation for Iloilo City’s Mandurriao district. It’s the first of its kinds since the ratification of RA 7916, or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995, which designated “selected areas with highly developed or which have the potential to be developed into agro-industrial, industrial tourist/recreational, commercial, banking, investment, and financial centers.”
When the law was first passed, information technology was not yet an emerging industry but now it is debuting in Iloilo City. The Ecozone may include industrial estates, export processing zones, free trade zones, and tourist/recreational centers and, when the law was first enacted, Iloilo was not included as a potential Ecozone. In order to be established as an Ecozone, the locality must be subject to evaluation and recommendation by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.
Among the areas initially listed included Morong, Hermosa, Dinalupihan, Orani, Samal, and Abucay in Bataan; Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental; Iligan City, Lanao del Norte; Saranggani; Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Davao City and Samal Island in Davao del Sur; Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental; Malita, Davao Occidental; Baler, Dinalungan, and Casiguran in Aurora; Naga and Iriga in Camarines Sur; Legaspi and Tabaco in Albay, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon; Bataan Island in Batanes; Lapu-Lapu City, Balamban, Pinamungahan, Cebu City, and Toledo City in Cebu; Tacloban City and Barugo in Leyte; Buenavista, Guimaras; San Jose de Buenavista, Hamtic, Sibalom, and Culasi in Antique; Catarman, Bobon, and San Jose in Northern Samar; Samar Island; Ternate, Cavite; Polloc and Parang in Maguindanao; Boac, Marinduque; Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur; the Dipolog City-Manukan Corridor in Zamboanga del Norte; Mambajao, Camiguin; Infanta, Real, Polillo, Alabat, Atimonan, Mauban, Tiaong, Pagbilao, Mulanay, Tagkawayan, and Dingalan Bay in Quezon; Butuan City, Agusan del Norte; Roxas City, Capiz.
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Alex P. Vidal, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo./WDJ