Clark Freeport Zone---In the midst of economic turmoil in Asia and around the world, new partnerships and opportunities are being fostered between the Philippines and Taiwan. Heads of different agencies from Clark and Subic Bay, together with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Intercommerce and Department of Trade and Industry Senior Undersecretary Thomas Aquino gathered on September 11, 2009 in an effort to harmonize customs systems, improve procedures and to discuss the progress of the Philippine-Taiwan trade relations, known as the Subic-Clark-Taiwan economic corridor.

Clark International Airport Corporation President Victor Jose Luciano reported on the positive and significant strides that have been achieved to advance flights between Taiwan and Clark via the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport. “We have been conducting emergency drills and safety measures to fulfill aircraft certification requirements. Everybody is looking at the month of October to start the regular flight of Clark-Taipei. Basically we will promote Taiwan in Clark, and in turn they will promote Subic and Clark to the Taiwanese people, so our market will be combined. This will also be beneficial to our Filipino workers in Taiwan, and secondly tourists. We hope many things for this flight because for a long time there have been no flights between Clark and Taiwan,” Luciano said.

The recent automation of facilities and procedures in the free ports also made the flow of transactions and cargo shipping much faster and more efficient; owing to the agencies’ goal of harmonizing procedures in regards to Immigration, Customs and Quarantine. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza said talks with investors from different Taiwanese companies are already underway. “We are in fact dealing with Taiwan investors as well. I think we are prepared to offer incentives to encourage various companies to come to the Subic-Clark corridor,” Arreza said.

“Our locators, particularly the Taiwanese firms, believe that through the harmonized immigration, customs and quarantine program, doing business in Subic and Clark will truly be at par with world-class standards,” he added.

For some time now, with the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Council (SCADC) at the forefront, the SBMA and Clark Development Corporation (CDC) sponsored separate briefings for the locators of the Clark and Subic Freeport Zones to encourage the locators to put up the requirements for the implementation of the enhanced automated cargo transfer system at the NAIA Customs Freeport Zone office. According to E-KONEK representative Wilhelm Ortaliz, this is in conjunction with the signing on August 21, 2008 of the Memorandum of Agreement among BOC, CDC and SBMA which calls for the implementation of the automated cargo clearance and remitting facility with the two Freeport zones. This was followed by the issuance of a joint memorandum order providing for the implementation of ETAPS, or Electronic Transit Admission Permit System for all locators to use. This means that no manual admission permits will be issued anymore by CDC and SBMA. Ortaliz said E-KONEK has also been working on upgrading the DSL Internet connection at the NAIA BOC. At the same time, the agencies’ latest project called “one stop shop system,” aims to achieve a single window concept where all processes will be completed. SCADC consultant Agaton Uvero explained, “We have a single format for visa and work permit, bar codes all the security features. Before, the visas issued in the Freeport are only valid within the Freeport. Now the visa is valid anywhere in the Philippines. I think that’s one of the major developments in terms of the changes in the business system, we have the one stop shop processing system, we have the automated facilities of immigration available to Subic and Clark, the visas’ validity, we have a single form for Clark and Subic, and the control system for security are taken by the Freeport authorities.”

With regards to the project of linking the Philippines with its global trading partner, Intercommerce Network Services Inc. President Francis Lopez said that they are working on “the possibility of using the cross border connection for the exchange of communication between the two countries.”

The talks among agencies resulted in an accord to undertake measures to achieve complete harmonization of the Immigration and Customs policies and procedures to provide the best service and create a good, substantial relationship with Taiwan.

DTI Senior Usec. Aquino said, “We must present the Philippines as an opportunity for them.” SCADC Chief of Staff Linda Pamintuan adds, “One could be faced with numerous challenges, but we commit ourselves to surmounting these challenges and resolving whatever it is that may arise in order to ensure that the policies are in place and procedures are followed.”