Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority Chairperson Raul Regondola swore in Mayor Khymer Olaso as an ex officio member of the Zambo Ecozone Board on Monday, August 11.

The oath-taking ceremony took place during the City Government flag-raising ceremony held at the City Hall grounds, where Regondola likewise turned over to the city government through Mayor Olaso, a check amounting to P2,000,276.12 representing the local government’s share in the Zambo Ecozone’s operations.

Based on Republic Act 7903, the act creating the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, issued on February 23, 1995, the zone shall remit to the city government three percent of its gross income, to be allocated as follows: two percent to the city of Zamboanga and one percent to the barangay special development fund, for the development and improvement of the barangays within the city.

On the other hand, the law also stipulates that the mayor, along with the congressional representatives and the representative of the City Council shall serve as ex-officio voting members of the Ecozone Board.

During the flag ceremony, Regondola said the ecozone has made significant progress over the years, as it now boats of 147 locators and counting. These strides include the operation of the Sea Oil depot and a shipyard, the establishment of the Coast Guard Southwestern Mindanao District, and the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the DPWH First Engineering District Office among others. “We are expanding the community inside the Ecozone because we want to convince locators to invest in the ecozone.”

He likewise emphasized that the renovation is ongoing for the Water Park Resort, a theme park for children which can also be used for team building activities.

For his part, Mayor Olaso commended Regondola for a job well done and expressed hopes that the latter will continue with his term to be able to accomplish his goals for the ecozone. (CMO-PIO) (photo credits: Kathy Wee Sit)