Saying lawmakers had ironed out the flawed provisions of the Bulacan airport bill that drew a presidential veto, Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday sponsored on the Senate floor a measure creating a special economic zone “with the airport project at its heart.
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Poe recalled how in the 18th Congress, she sponsored on the floor the franchise of the New Manila International Airport, which she described as “a game changer as not only the first-ever airport franchise granted by Congress, but is also the biggest private sector investment in the country.” “The creation of a special economic zone with the airport project at its heart. No airport is an island. The success of an airport relies on a whole ecosystem of properly run highways and roads, vibrant markets and industries, and seamless collaboration with its neighboring towns and communities.”
Set up in 1959, “this free trade zone was Ireland’s signal to the world that it is open for business. It now hosts 300 companies and employs about 8,000 individuals. In numbers, the Shannon Airport Group—which consists of the Airport, the Free Zone, and other related ventures—has contributed to about 3.96 billion Euros in 2022 alone to Ireland’s GDP in terms of Gross Value Added.”