PBBM’s economic astuteness drives growth in Cavite Ecozones
To spread wealth and have economic opportunity drive its ripple down effect to the less privileged and the grassroots Filipino.
These are the main reasons why the government puts up economic zones in key parts of the archipelago.
But other than spurring growth and development in other areas aside from Metro Manila or Metro Cebu, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., true to his form of being one of the most economically astute presidents the country, tasked the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to ensure a system of efficiency and sound fiscal programs among the economic zones.
The economic zones are among the most transformative economic drivers in the country, catalyzing industrial progress and positioning the Philippines at the forefront of Southeast Asia’s economic landscape.
With an environment ripe for business development and global integration, these ecozones have become magnets for investment, where skilled labor and state-of-the-art infrastructure converge to create opportunities redefining the nation’s economic trajectory.
At the heart of this growth is the economic astuteness of President Marcos’ administration which has been instrumental in supporting the expansion of these ecozones.
His vision of institutionalizing a competitive, globally connected economy is driving the country toward a future where innovation, investment, and job creation will eventually elevate the Philippines into a major export player in the global marketplace.
Among the leading ecozones that contribute immensely to the country’s economic development are the ones in the province of Cavite. These zones, including the prominent Cavite Economic Zone (CEZ), Gateway Business Park, and the newly expanded National Development Company (NDC) Industrial Estate, have transformed the local landscape into a bustling hub for manufacturing, high-tech industries, and exports.
Cavite now serves as a prime location for businesses looking for skilled labor force, modern infrastructure, and seamless integration into global supply chains. It also plays a key role in the country’s goal to become one of the most competitive economies in Southeast Asia.
President Marcos has underscored the importance of these ecozones in advancing industrial growth and creating opportunities for Filipinos. This will also help make the Philippines a top investment destination for foreign and local firms.
“The expansion of these ecozones not only boosts economic activity but also provides opportunities for Filipinos to participate in the global value chain,” he said.
Pinoy Wunderkind: A PEZA Success Story
The continued growth in the ecozone is suitable for the economy and has also helped Filipino employees working in companies in PEZA-administered zones. One of them is Bob Bismonte, a mechanical engineer and Design Director at Global 3D Systems (G3D).
After working abroad for six years in Germany, Bob returned to the Philippines, believing that with the right qualifications and dedication, the country can offer professional and personal growth opportunities.
At PEZA’s Cavite Ecozone, he found a platform to innovate and thrive.
Bob is recognized internationally for his engineering skills, particularly for developing the T2000 printer, which uses liquid resin for 3D printing applications in the medical, dental, and automotive industries.
This innovation, patented in the USA and the Philippines, has positioned G3D as a desktop 3D printing industry leader.
In January 2025, Bob and his team are set to receive the “Best Innovation Award” at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, USA, for their groundbreaking gaming controller program designed for physically handicapped children.
“Ang entry po namin ay tinawag naming ‘Gaming Controller.’ Ginagamit po ito ng mga batang handicapped na hindi makapaglaro pero magaling naman. Halimbawa, kahit putol ang isang kamay ng bata ay pwede pa rin siyang makapaglaro,” Bob shared.
Bob credits PEZA and G3D for providing an empowering environment where his ideas are nurtured and brought to life.
“Dahil nahikayat ng PEZA ang locators tulad ng G3D na mamuhunan sa Pilipinas, ako ay nakakuha ng opportunity na kung saan lahat ng idea ko ay naisasakatuparan. Masasabi ko na ako ay empowered to innovate Filipino-made products that could compete globally,” he said.
His story is just one example of the success enabled by PEZA ecozones, which now host 4,382 locator companies and provide employment to 1.8 million Filipinos.
Diversifying Beyond Manufacturing
In compliance with President Marcos’ directive for PEZA to diversify beyond manufacturing, Director General Tereso Panga emphasized the agency’s commitment to exploring strategic industries such as health and medical care, high-tech manufacturing, and emerging technologies.
“PEZA has been an essential driver of industrial growth for 30 years, but we must now move into new and emerging sectors to secure the Philippines’ future as a global investment hub,” Panga said.
He highlighted the construction of the first pharmaceutical park in Tarlac as a step forward in this direction.
PEZA has also attracted major technology players like Samsung, Murata, TDK, and Taiyo Yuden, which produce multi-layered ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), as well as Onsemi with its Silicon Carbide manufacturing and other players developing battery technologies for electric vehicles (EVs).
To promote innovation, Panga considered the Knowledge Innovation Science and Technology (KIST) parks.
“We also need to venture into Research and Development innovations. These KIST parks, hosted within colleges and universities, are designed to enhance R&D efforts and foster collaboration between academia and industry,” he said.
Panga is optimistic about the Philippines’ future as Asia’s investment capital. “With our early adoption of the economic zone model, we are well-positioned to lead industrial growth in Southeast Asia,” he said.
PEZA is now eyeing the possibility of developing 16,000 hectares of public land in Iwahig, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, in partnership with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), to construct the Philippine Mega Economic Zone, which aims to attract significant investments and create more job opportunities.
In fact, PEZA has commenced initial stages of planning and development for Palawan’s first mega economic zone in collaboration with BuCor.
Panga said, “from within our own domain and sphere of influence, we can pursue these strategies to address the challenges in the supply chain, industrial and logistics sectors, and in the process attract more industrial investments, particularly in the ecozones.”
Both agencies plan to transform 25,000 hectares of the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa into an eco-industrial township with a self-sustaining community.
The goal of the proposed economic zone is to draw both local and foreign investments, create jobs and stimulate economic activities in the region.
With Palawan’s strategic location, the project intends to enhance trade and commerce across the Greater Sulu-Sulawesi Corridor, a vital maritime route for Southeast Asia.
The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area partnership.
Early this year, PEZA and BuCor signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) where both agencies shall collaborate in attracting foreign direct investments and in creating economic opportunities by establishing PEZA-registered economic zones in the lands under the jurisdiction of BuCor.
At the signing ceremony, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang said this project will provide various opportunities not only for the host local government unit and region but most especially employment for persons deprived of liberty, which is considered BuCor’s priority.
“There are already investors who expressed serious intent in bringing in their operations in this mega ecozone. Knowing this and now with our signed MoU, we can already start land mapping and subzoning to better plan for the establishment of this zone and we hope to accomplish this by the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” said Panga.
Aside from Palawan, the PEZA chief also said that they plan to open new seaports in the next four years like Pantao in Albay, which he said could de-risk trade and as shorten transport of goods to Taiwan, Korea, the United States, Japan, the Americas, Australia, New Zealand and other destinations in the Pacific.
Amid the rapid pace of global economic transformation, the Philippines, under the leadership of President Marcos, is indeed reaping success in enabling its key regions emerge as beacons of innovation and growth, shaping new opportunities and paving the way for long-term success for the benefit of Filipinos.
