Angara bats for creation of
Aurora Special Economic Zone

"We must give high priority to the country's agricultural resources as well as developing our rural communities..." - Angara

Reelectionist Senator Edgardo J. Angara (LDP) today reiterated his call for providing young people in rural communities with jobs so that they can help develop the countryside.

How do we address the problem of developing the 'future farmers'? How do we convince the young people to continue farming? And at the same time, how do we integrate them into the rural community?" asked Angara.

Angara, former Agriculture Secretary, noted Senate Bill No. 2603 which seeks to create the Aurora Special Economic Zone or Aurora Ecozone to develop self sustaining centers with suitable residential areas.

The Aurora Ecozone shall be managed and operated by the Aurora Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) which may administer incentives to registered enterprises.

The ecozone shall cover the entire area in the barangays of Esteves, Dibet and Dibacong, all in the municipality of Casiguran.

"The entire area shall be developed and operated by ASEZA as self-reliant, self-sustaining business centers which may be industrial, commercial, agro-industrial and even financial in nature," Angara said.

"The Aurora Ecozone shall be provided with transportation, telecommunications and other facilities needed to attract legitimate and productive investments for the people of Aurora Province as well as its neighboring towns and cities.

"It may even establish mutually beneficial economic relations with other entities or enterprises for the goods manufactured by an Aurora Ecozone shall be made available for immediate retail sale in the domestic market," Angara explained.

In November 2006, Angara attended an investment forum at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA P). Among other participants were Dr. Bernardo Villegas and Henry Basilio of UA P and Ed Hernandez from Asia Pro, a group aimed at promoting better business enterprise in Europe and Asia.

"We must give high priority to the country's agricultural resources as well as developing our rural communities, for these two are our natural income-generating assets," Angara said.