Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by REP. SITTIE SHAHARA “BAI DIMPLE” I. MASTURA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill aims to create Special Economic Zones in the municipalities in the 
First District of the Province of Maguindanao and in Cotabato City. 
Special economic zones (SEZs) have been regarded as an effective tool in 
addressing the challenges of globalization.  Countries such as China, Singapore, 
Malaysia and South Korea have successfully adopted special economic zones as a 
way of attracting foreign investments, ushering in job creation and export 
generation.  In fact, in the Philippines, SEZs have generated employment to more 
than 2 Million Filipinos, and contributed billions in the country’s total investments. 
The creation of Special Economic Zones in the municipalities of Barira, 
Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern 
Kaabuntalan, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura and Upi will help create jobs 
for the people of Maguindanao, improve its economic productivity, and promote a 
sound and balanced industrial, economic and social development for the province of 
Maguindanao, especially in the rural areas. 
Meanwhile, the independent port city of Cotabato City is perfectly suited for 
the creation of a Special Economic Zone. Strategically situated at the mouth of the 
Rio Grande de Mindanao and the Pulangi River, it is the commercial, industrial, 
finance, education, health care and regional center of the Bangsamoro Region as well 
as Central Mindanao.  It is the center of Mindanao, and has a road link to all other 
major cities in the island such as Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga City and 
General Santos City. 
August 22, 2022
8:02 am
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Cotabato City has one of the fastest growing economy.1  NEDA Region XII 
projects Cotabato City as an Agri-Industrial and Eco Tourism Corridor, with its 
major industry being aquaculture, as well as being the services center for Regional 
Government Agencies from the Bangsamoro Region and Region 12.  It is the site of 
several educational institutions and medical centers, with a proposed international 
airport soon to be established. 
It is hoped that the establishment of special economic zones in Maguindanao 
and Cotabato City will lead to economic dynamism, increased investments, business 
opportunities and job generation. 
In view of its vital importance, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
SITTIE SHAHARA “BAI DIMPLE” 
I. MASTURA
Representative 
First District of Maguindanao 
with Cotabato City 
1 Fernandez, Edwin (August 18, 2017). "Cotabato is 2nd most competitive city". Philippine News Agency. 
Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 27 November 2018. 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by REP. SITTIE SHAHARA “BAI DIMPLE” I. MASTURA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF THE 
FIRST DISTRICT OF MAGUINDANAO AND IN THE CITY OF COTABATO, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER 1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Section 1.  Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “The Maguindanao 
and Cotabato City Special Economic Zone Act.” 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy.  – It is declared the policy of the State to 
encourage, promote and accelerate the sound and balanced industrial, economic, 
and social development of the country.  The establishment of special economic 
zones shall attract legitimate and productive foreign investments in strategic 
locations in the country.  It shall generate employment, improve productivity and 
increase  individual, as well as family, incomes, thereby enhancing the quality of life 
of the Filipino people. 
CHAPTER 2 
CREATION OF ECONOMIC ZONES 
Section 3. Creation of the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Special Economic 
Zone.  – In accordance with the foregoing declared policy and subject to the 
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concurrence of the Bangsamoro Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) and the 
concerned local government unit (LGUs) of Maguindanao affected by the zone, 
there is hereby established a Special Economic Zone, hereinafter referred to as the 
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Special Economic Zone (MCCSEZ).  The MCCSEZ 
shall cover particular areas located in the First District of Maguindanao and the City 
of Cotabato.  The specific metes and bounds shall be more particularly defined in a 
presidential proclamation which shall be issued for this purpose:  Provided, That the 
lands embraced therein shall be public lands and contiguous to one another. 
 
Section 4.  Creation of the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone 
Authority (MCCSEZA).  There is hereby created a body corporate to be known as 
the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Special Economic Zone Authority 
(MCCSEZA), hereinafter referred to as the MCCSEZA, which shall manage and 
operate the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone, in accordance with the 
provisions of this Act. This corporate franchise shall expire in fifty (50) years, 
counted from the first year after the effectivity of this Act, unless otherwise extended 
by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.  It shall be organized within one hundred 
eighty (180) days after the effectivity of this Act. 
 
Section 5.  Governing principles. – The Maguindanao and Cotabato City 
Special Economic Zone shall be managed and operated by the Maguindanao and 
Cotabato City Special Ecozone Authority (MCCSEZA) under the following 
principles: 
 
a. Within the framework and limitations of the Constitution and applicable 
provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the “Local 
Government Code of 1991”, the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone 
(MCCSEZ)shall be developed into and operated as a decentralized self-
reliant and self-sustaining industrial, commercial/trading, agro-industrial, 
tourist, banking, financial and investment center with suitable residential 
areas; 
 
b. The Maguindanao and Cotabato City Special Ecozone (MCCSEZ) shall 
be provided with transportation, telecommunications and other facilities 
needed to attract legitimate and productive investments, generate linkage 
industries and employment opportunities for the people of Maguindanao 
and Cotabato City; 
 
c. The Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone may establish mutually 
beneficial economic relations with other entities or enterprises within the 
country or, subject to the administrative guidance of the Bangsamoro 
Administrative Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and/or the Bangsamoro 
Export Processing Zone Authority (BEZA), with foreign entities and 
enterprise;  
 


d. Foreign citizens and companies owned by non-Filipinos, in whatever 
proportion, may set up enterprise in the Maguindanao and Cotabato City 
Ecozone, either by themselves or in a joint venture with Filipinos in any 
sector of industry, international trade and commerce within the 
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone; 
 
e. The Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone shall be managed and 
operated as separate customs territory thereby ensuring the free flow or 
movement of goods and capital within, into and out of its territory, and 
shall likewise provide incentives such as tax and duty-free importations of 
raw materials, capital and equipment to registered enterprises located 
therein.  However, exportation or removal of goods from the territory of the 
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone to other parts of Philippine 
territory shall be subject to custom duties and taxes under Republic Act 
No. 10863 otherwise known as the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act” 
and other relevant tax laws of the Philippines; 
 
f. 
The areas comprising the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone may be 
expanded or reduced when necessary. For this purpose, the MCCEZA, in 
consultation with the LGUs, shall have the power to acquire either by 
purchase, negotiation or condemnation proceedings, any private land within 
or adjacent to the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone for the following 
purposes: (1) consolidation of lands for zone development; (2) acquisition of 
right of way to the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone; and (3) the 
protection of watershed areas and natural assets valuable to the property of 
the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone; 
 
g. Goods manufactured by the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone 
enterprise shall be made available for immediate retail sale in the domestic 
market, subject to the payment of corresponding taxes on raw materials and 
other regulations that may be formulated by the BEZA.; 
 
h. The defense of the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone and the 
security of its perimeter fence shall be the responsibility of the Bangsamoro 
Administrative Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in coordination ·with 
BEZA and the LGUs. 
 
SECTION 6. Capitalization. - The Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone 
shall have an authorized capital stock of Two Billion (2,000,000,000) no par shares 
with a minimum issue of Ten pesos (PhP10.00) each, the majority shares of which 
shall be subscribed and paid for by the BARMM and LGUs embracing the 
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Special Economic Zone. The Board of Directors of 
MCCSEZA may, with the written concurrence of the BARMM Ministry of Finance, 
Budget and Management, sell shares representing not more than forty per centum 
(40%) of the capital stock of the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone to the 
general public under such policy as the Board and the Ecozone may determine. The 


BARMM Government and the LGUs shall in no case own less than sixty per centum 
(60%) of the total issued and outstanding capital of Maguindanao and Cotabato 
City Ecozone. 
 
The amount necessary to subscribe and pay for the shares of the BARMM 
Government to the capital stock of the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act for the BARMM. For the 
LGUs concerned, the funds shall be taken from their internal revenue allotment and 
other local funds. 
 
SECTION 7. Principal Office of the Maguindanao And Cotabato City Special 
Economic Zone Authority. - The Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone Authority 
(MCCEZA) shall maintain its principal office at Cotabato City, but it may establish 
branches ·within the Philippines as may be necessary for the proper conduct of its 
business. 
SECTION 8. Powers and Functions of the Maguindanao and Cotabato City 
Special Economic Zone Authority. -The Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone 
Authority (MCCSEZA) shall have the following powers and functions: 
a. To operate, administer, manage and develop the Maguindanao and 
Cotabato City Ecozone according to the principles and provisions set forth in 
this Act; 
b. To register, regulate and supervise the enterprises in the Maguindanao and 
Cotabato City Ecozone in an efficient and decentralized manner, subject to 
existing laws; 
c. To coordinate with LGU:s and exercise general supervision over the 
development plans, activities and operations of the Maguindanao and 
Cotabato City Ecozone; 
d. To regulate and undertake the establishment and construction, operation 
and maintenance of public utilities, other services, and infrastructure in the 
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone such as light and power, shipping, 
barging, stevedoring, cargo handling, hauling, warehousing, storage of 
cargo. port services or concessions, piers, wharves, bulkheads, bulk 
terminals, mooring areas, storage areas, roads, telecommunications, 
transport, bridges, terminals, conveyors. water supply and storage, 
sewerage, drainage, airport operations in coordination with the Civil Aviation 
Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and such other services and 
concessions or infrastructure necessary or incidental to the accomplishment 
of the objectives of this Act: 
e. To construct, acquire, own, lease, operate and maintain on its own or 
through contracts, franchise, licenses, bulk purchase from the private sector 
or permits under any of the schemes allowed in Republic Act No. 6597, 


otherwise known as 
the 
"Build-Operate-Transfer 
Law" 
as 
amended, or joint venture, adequate facilities and  infrastructure required or 
needed for the operation and development of the Maguindanao and 
Cotabato City Ecozone, in coordination with the appropriate national and 
local government authorities and 
 in  conformity  
with 
applicable  
laws thereon; 
f. To approve plans, programs and projects of the Maguindanao and Cotabato 
City Ecozone pursuant to Chapter II, Section 3 of this Act, to be submitted to 
the Regional Development Council for inclusion and inputs lo the overall  
regional development plan; 
 
g. To operate on its own, either directly or through licenses to others, tourism-
related activities, including games, amusements, recreational and sports 
facilities, subject to the approval and supervision of the Philippine 
Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR); 
 
h. To raise or borrow, within the limitation provided by law, and subject to the 
approval or opinion of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng 
Pilipinas (BSP), as the case may be, adequate and necessary funds from 
local or foreign sources, to finance its projects and programs under this Act 
and for this purpose, to issue bonds. promissory notes and other forms of 
securities, and to secure the same by a guarantee, pledge, mortgage, deed 
of trust or an assignment of all or part of its property or assets, 
 
i. To protect, preserve, maintain and develop the forests, beaches, coral and 
coral reefs, and maintain ecological balance within the Maguindanao and 
Cotabato City Ecozone. Notwithstanding the authority of the Maguindanao 
and Cotabato City Ecozone Authority (MCCSEZA) to create rules for such 
purpose, the rules and regulations of the BARMM Government and other 
government agencies involved in the above functions shall be implemented 
by the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone Authority; 
 
j. To create, operate and/or contract to operate such functional units or offices 
of the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone as it may deem necessary; 
 
k. To adopt, alter and use a corporate seal; contract, lease, buy, acquire, own 
or otherwise dispose of personal and/or real property of whatever nature; 
sue and be sued; and othenvi.se carry out its functions and duties as 
provided for in this Act; 
 
l. To issue certificates of origin for products manufactured or processed in the 
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone in accordance with prevailing 
rules of origin and the pertinent regulations of the BEZA and the BARMM 
Government; 
 


m. To establish one-stop shops for the issuance of all necessary permits, 
clearances, licenses, and other similar certifications to conduct such 
activities intended to improve the ease of doing business within the 
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone, in coordination with government 
agencies having jurisdiction over activities therein; Provided, That all 
government agencies are directed to provide and extend utmost and full 
cooperation to the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone in the 
establishment of such one-stop shops; 
 
n. To provide internal security to the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone 
in coordination with the BARMM Government and affected LGU. For this 
purpose, the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone Authority shall 
provide and establish its own internal security and fire fighting forces or hire 
others to provide the same. Military forces sent by the BARMM Government 
for the purpose of defense shall not interfere in the internal affairs of the 
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone and expenditures for these 
military forces shall be borne by the BARMM Government; 
 
o. To recommend to the President of the Philippines the issuance of a 
proclamation to fix and delimit the site of Maguindanao and Cotabato City 
Ecozone; 
p. To exercise such powers as may be essential, necessary or incidental to 
the powers granted to it hereunder, as well as those that shall enable to 
carry out, implement and accomplish the purposes, objectives and policies 
of this Act; and 
 
q. To issue, rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of this Act as 
may be necessary to accomplish and implement the purposes, objectives 
and policies provided herein. 
 
SECTION 9.  Board of Directors of the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Special 
Economic Zone Authority - The powers of the Maguindanao and Cotabato City 
Ecozone Authority shall be vested in and exercised by a Board of Directors, 
hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be composed of the following: 
 
a. The Chairperson, who shall at the same time be the administrator of the 
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone; 
 
b. Governor of the Province 
of 
Maguindanao 
or 
his 
duly 
authorized 
representative 
 
c. The Mayor of the municipalities and the city covered by the ecozone; 
 
d. One (1) representative from the investor’s group; and 
 


e. One (1) representative from among the workers in the Maguindanao and 
Cotabato City Ecozone. 
 
The Vice Chairperson shall be selected from among the members of the Board. 
 
The representative from the Provincial Government and the mayor of the 
municipalities and city covered by the ecozone shall serve as ex-officio members of 
the Board, whose term in the Board corresponds to their term as elected officials. 
 
The Chairperson and members of the Board, except ex-officio member, shall 
be appointed by the BARMM Chief Minister, to serve for a term of six (6) years 
unless sooner separated from service due to death, voluntary resignation or 
removal for cause.  In case of death, resignation or removal for cause, their 
replacements shall serve only the unexpired portion of the respective terms. 
 
The Chairperson of the Board must be a Filipino citizen, of good moral 
character, of proven probity and integrity, and a degree holder in any of the 
following fields: economics, business, public administration, Iaw, management or 
their.equivalent, and with at least ten (10) years relevant work experience 
preferably in the field of management or public administration. 
 
The members of the Board, except the ex-officio members, shall each receive 
per diem at rate to be determined by the Ministry of Finance, Budget and 
Management (MFBM) in accordance with existing rules and regulations: Provided, 
however, That the total per diem collected each month shall not exceed the 
equivalent per diem for four (4) meetings. Unless and until the Chief Minister of 
BARMM has fixed a higher per dliem for the members of the Board, such per diem 
shall not be more than Ten thousand Pesos (PhP10,000.00) for every Board 
meeting. 
 
SECTION 10. Organization and Personnel. - The Board of Directors of 
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone Authority (MCCSEZA) shall provide for its 
organization and staff. The Board shall appoint and fix the remuneration and other 
emoluments of its officers and employees in accordance ·with existing laws on 
compensation and position classification. The Board shall have exclusive and final 
authority to promote, transfer, assign, reassign or remove officers of the MCCSEZA, 
any provision of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding. The Chairperson-
Administrator shall carry out the decisions of the Board.  
The officers and employees of the MCCSEZA, including all members of the 
Board, shall not engage directly or indirectly in partisan activities nor take part in 
any election, except to vote. 
No officer or employee of the MCCSEZA, subject to civil service laws and 
regulations, shall be removed or suspended except for cause, as provided by law. 


SECTION 11.  Powers and Duties of the Chairperson-Administrator. - The 
Chairperson-Administrator shall have the following powers and duties: 
a. To direct and manage the affairs of the MCCSEZA in accordance with the 
policies of the Board; 
b. To establish the internal organization of the MCCSEZA under such conditions 
that the Board may prescribe; 
 
c. To submit an annual budget and necessary supplemental budget to the Board 
for its approval; 
 
d. To submit within thirty (30) days after the close of each fiscal year an annual 
report to the Board and such other reports as may be required; 
 
 
e. To submit to the Board for its approval, policies, systems, procedures, rules 
and regulations that are essential to the operation of the Maguindanao and 
Cotabato City Ecozone; 
 
f. To recommend to the Board the remuneration and other emoluments of its 
officers and employees in accordance with existing laws on compensation 
and position classification; 
 
g. To create a mechanism in coordination with relevant agencies for the 
promotion of industrial peace, the protection of the environment, and the 
advancement of the quality of life in Maguindanao and Cotabato City 
Ecozone; and 
 
h. To perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board or which are 
necessary or incidental to the office. 
 
SECTION 12. Legal Counsel. - The MCCSEZA shall have its own legal counsel 
under the supervision of the government corporate counsel. When the exigencies of 
its businesses and operations demand it, the MCCSEZA may engage the services 
of an outside counsel either on a case to case or on a fixed retainer basis. 
 
 
Chapter 3. 
INCENTIVES TO ECOZONE ENTERPRISES/INVESTORS 
SECTION 13. Investors Visa. - Any foreign national who invests an amount of 
Two Hundred Thousand US dollars (US$200,000.00), either in cash and/or 
equipment, in a registered enterprise shall be entitled to an investor's visa: 
Provided, That the foreign national has the following qualifications: 


a. Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age; 
b. Must not have been convicted by final judgment of a crime involving moral 
turpitude; 
 
c. Must not be afflicted with any loathsome, dangerous or contagious disease; 
d. Must not have been institutionalized for any mental disorder or disability; and 
e. Must establish financial capability and capacity through verifiable and 
credible evidence. 
 
A foreign national may reside in the Philippines while the investment herein 
required subsists. To prove this, the foreign national should submit an annual 
report, in the form duly prescribed for the purpose. Should said investments be 
withdrawn from the Philippines, then the investor's visa issued to said foreign 
national shall automatically expire and/or be withdrawn. 
 
The authority to issue visas and work permits shall remain with the Bureau of 
Immigration (BI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), 
respectively; Provided, That the BI and the DOLE shall implement measures to 
expedite the processing of such visas and permits for workers in the Maguindanao 
and Cotabato City Ecozone and coordinate with the MCCSEZA for the purpose of 
improving ease of doing business. 
SECTION 14. Fiscal Incentives. - Registered enterprises operating within the 
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone may be entitled to the pre-existing 
pertinent fiscal incentives as provided for under Repub1ic Act No. 7916, as 
amended by Republic Act No. 8748, also known as the Special Economic Zone Act 
of 1995, or those provided under Executive Order No. 226, as amended, otherwise 
as the Omnibus Investment Code of 1987, and/or those that may· be further granted 
as the need and necessity arises by appropriate government department, agency, 
or office: Provided, That in the administration, implementation and monitoring of 
incentives, the MCCSEZA may impose its own conditions not otherwise prohibited 
by this Act: Provided  further, That the MCCSEZA shall not be limited to the 
conditions provided under Republic Act No. 7916, Republic Act No. 8748 or any 
other related issuance, rule or regulation.  
SECTION 15. Imposition of a Tax Rate of Five Percent (5%) on Gross Income 
Earned. - No taxes, local and national, shall be imposed on business 
establishments operating within the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone, 
including income tax withholding tax, donor's tax, percentage tax, and documentary 
stamp tax. In lieu thereof and subject to Section 17 of this Act. said business 
establishments shall pay a five percent (5%) final tax on their gross income earned: 
Provided, That the proceeds from such final tax shall be shared by instrumentalities 
of the government in accordance with the following schedule: 


a. 
Three per centum (3%) to the BARMM Government; 
 
b. Two per centum (2%) shall be directly remitted by the business 
establishments to the treasurer's office of the municipality/city where the 
enterprise is located. 
 
The MCCSEZA shall have the authority to grant income tax holiday and net 
operating loss carry over subject to Section 17 of this Act and conditions it may 
have imposed pursuant to Section 14 of this Act. 
SECTION 16. Administration Implementation and Monitoring of Incentives. - In 
the interest of enhancing transparency in the management and accounting of tax 
incentives in the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone, the MCCSEZA shall 
comply with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10708, otherwise known as "The Tax 
Incentives Management and Transparency Act (TIMTA)" and its implementing rules 
and 
regulations 
for 
proper 
administration, 
management, 
enforcement, 
implementation and monitoring of tax. incentives under this law. 
 
The BOC shall set up and establish a customs-controlled area outside the gate 
of the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone to facilitate payment of taxes on 
goods entering the Philippine customs territory: Provided, That notwithstanding the 
limitations in this Act. the MCCSEZA and Bureau of Customs (BOC) may coordinate 
and jointly implement measures on border protection. 
SECTION 17. Duration and Incentives. - Fiscal incentives under this Act shall be 
terminated after a cumulative period of twenty (20) years from date of registration or 
start of commercial operation, whichever is applicable, except that it could be 
extended with regard to industries deemed indispensable to national development 
and interest. The industries exempted from this provision shall be determined by the 
MCCSEZA, in consultation with other government agencies. 
SECTION 18. Sequential Availment of Incentives. - Registered enterprises may 
enjoy the income tax holiday (ITH) granted by MCCSEZA prior to the availment of 
the five percent (5%) final tax on gross income earned incentive: Provided, That in 
the event a registered enterprise elects to avail of the final tax incentive, such 
registered enterprise shall be barred from availing the ITH incentive. 
Registered enterprises, if eligible, may register for incentives with other 
investment promotion agencies: Provided, That registered enterprises electing to 
avail of the incentives of other promotion agencies shall not be able to avail of the 
incentives of the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone until the expiration of the 
incentives with such other investment promotion agencies. 
 
SECTION 19. Extension. of Period of Availment. - In the event that it suffers a 
cessation or suspension of operations due to force majeure, which has impaired its 
viability or profitability, the MCCSEZA may extend the period of validity of the 
incentives extended to such registered enterprise,  


 
SECTION 20. Banking Rules and Regulations. - Banks and financial institutions 
to be established in the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone shall be under the 
supervision of the BSP and subject to existing banking law, rules and regulations. 
SECTION 21. Remittances. - In the case of foreign investments, a duly registered 
entity or enterprise within the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone shall have 
the right to remit earnings from the investment in the currency in which the 
investment was originally made and at the exchange rate prevailing at the time of 
remittance, subject to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7653, otherwise known as 
the "New Central Bank Act". 
 
 
CHAPTER   4. 
BARMM GOVERNMENT AND OTHER ENTITIES 
 
 
SECTION 22. Supervision and Control. - For purposes of policy direction and 
coordination, the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone shall be under the 
direct control and supervision of the Bangsamoro Government (BARMM). 
 
SECTION 23. Development Goals of the Maguindanao and Cotabato City 
Ecozone. - The MCCSEZA shall determine the development goals for the 
Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone within the framework of BARMM 
development plans, policies, and goals. The Chairperson and Administrator shall, 
upon approval by the Board, submit the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone 
plans, programs and projects to the Regional Development Council for  inclusion 
and  inputs to the overall regional development plant. 
 
SECTION 24. Relationship with Local Government Units. - Except as herein 
provided, the LGUs comprising the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone shall 
retain their basic autonomy and identity. The municipalities and the city of Cotabato 
shall operate and function in accordance with the framework of the 1987 
Constitution, Local Government Code of 1991, and this Act. 
In case of any conflict among the MCCSEZA, the LGUs, and the BARMM 
Government on matters affecting the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone 
other than national defense and security matters, the decision of the MCCSEZA 
shall prevail. 
 
SECTION 25. Audit. - The Commission on Audit shall appoint a full-time editor 
in the MCCSEZA or may assign such number of personnel as may be necessary in 
the performance of their functions. 
 
 


Chapter 5. 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
 
SECTION 26. Interpretation/Construction. - The powers, authorities and 
functions that are vested in the MCCSEZA are intended to establish national self-
sufficiency and self-reliance in the advancement and protection of the national 
integrity, enhancement of national security, decentralization of government 
functions and authority, and promote an efficient .and effective working relationship 
among the MCCSEZA, the Bangsamoro Government and the LGUs. Any 
interpretation of this Act shall consider such intentions. In the event of conflict of 
interpretation and provided  the intentions cannot be harmonized, the provisions of 
this Act shall be construed in favour of an interpretation that would tend to protect 
national security. 
SECTION 27. Applicability Clause. - Insofar as they are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act, the provisions of Section 30 to 41 of Republic Act No. 7916, 
otherwise known as "The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995", as amended, shall 
likewise apply to the Maguindanao and Cotabato City Ecozone. 
 
SECTION 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The BARMM Government 
in coordination with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), shall 
formulate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within ninety (90) days 
after its approval. 
SECTION 29. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in 
full force and effect. 
SECTION 30. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders or issuances, or 
any part thereof, which are inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 31. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) clays after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,