The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is urging local government units to work with the agency to develop new economic zones to boost regional growth and attract investments.
PEZA director general Tereso Panga said the agency is engaging with newly elected and “forward-thinking” mayors who have expressed interest in hosting ecozones.
Among those are Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, Los Baños City Mayor Neil Nocon, San Pablo City Mayor Najie Gapangada, Libon Mayor Mac Sayson, Pamplona Mayor Dennis Imperial, Oroquieta City Mayor Lemuel Acosta, Silang City Mayor Ted Carranza, Leganes Mayor Junjun Jaen, Victoria Mayor Rex Villa Agustin, Pagudpud City Mayor Ralph Benemerito, Digos City Mayor Josef Cagas, and San Andres Mayor Ralph Lim.
“These new host LGUs are welcome additions to PEZA’s network of 427 operating ecozones nationwide,” Panga said.
PEZA teams recently conducted due diligence and consultations for proposed ecozones in San Andres, Quezon, Pamplona, Camarines Sur, and Libon, Albay. The planned zones, strategically located along the Bicol and Bondoc Peninsulas, will benefit from port connectivity via San Andres, Pasacao, and Pantao ports, which are expected to facilitate the movement of goods and stimulate commerce and tourism.
Panga said hosting ecozones has been a proven driver of local progress, with cities and municipalities that host such facilities showing higher gross domestic product growth and investments than those that do not. According to the latest Philippine Statistics Authority data, almost all of the country’s top-performing LGUs in terms of investment generation host ecozones.
“To maximize these gains, we urge LGUs to adopt an investment code and integrity pledge, pursue digital transformation, and develop their human resources, infrastructure and local supply chains,” Panga said.
PEZA noted that ecozones create immediate benefits for communities, generating jobs, new micro, small and medium enterprises, transport services and other related enterprises. Under the current administration, 34 new and expanded ecozones have been proclaimed, contributing P14.7 billion in capital investments.
Panga said PEZA is also working with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to advance its own ecozone initiatives, in line with the Marcos administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” development agenda.
