The proposed amendment to the Freeport Area of Bataan Act of 2009 seems to be inconsistent

or in conflict with the Republic Act No. 7916 as amended by Republic Act No. 8748,
otherwise known as “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND
MECHANISMS FOR THE CREATION, OPERATION, ADMINISTRATION, AND
COORDINATION OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES IN THE PHILIPPINES,
CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC ZONE AUTHORITY
(PEZA), AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”

The bill seeks to give the Authority of Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) a wide range of
power and function which should be thoroughly checked with our existing laws for
possible overlapping of functions or conflict.

In fact, the amendment seeks for the AFAB to gain sole and exclusive management and
operation even over non-economic affairs to the exclusion of the Local Government
Unit. Under the law, ECOZONES are developed into a decentralized, self-reliant and
self-sustaining industrial, commercial/trading, agro-industrial, tourist, banking, financial
and investment center with minimum government intervention. Meaning, there is still
government participation but with minimum intervention in the ECOZONE.

It seems that the AFAB is seeking to become like an autonomous zone. The bills must
be carefully reviewed and studied with the existing law to prevent any overlapping of
functions, conflicts and abuse of power.