Bataan 2nd District Rep. Abet Garcia has announced the House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the Special Defense Economic Zone (SpeDEZ) Act, a bill that aims to boost the country’s defense and security capabilities by attracting private sector investments in defense-related industries.
The SpeDEZ Act, or House Bill 7764, seeks to establish a special economic zone in Camp Gen. Antonio Luna in Barangay Lamao, Limay, Bataan, where private investors can engage in defense, military, law enforcement, advanced technologies, information and communication, research and development, and other related industries. The bill also creates a governing body that will oversee and implement the rules and regulations for the SpeDEZ.
Garcia, the principal author of the bill along with Bataan 3rd District Rep. Gila Garcia, said the SpeDEZ will help strengthen and enhance the country’s internal and external defense capabilities as well as its arms manufacturing industry. He added that the bill will now be endorsed to the Senate for further legislative action.
“I am pleased to inform you that the House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the SpeDEZ Act, which aims to unify the efforts of the private sector and government to strengthen and enhance our capabilities in internal and external defense as well as in arms manufacturing,” Garcia wrote in Filipino on his official Facebook page.
He also thanked his fellow Bataeños for their support and assured them of his continued efforts to craft laws that will benefit them.
“You can count on me to continue drafting laws that will be useful for all of us,” he said.