Pasay City – In line with its 25th Silver Anniversary celebration this year, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has awarded its outstanding registered economic zone locators and developers during the Investors’ Recognition Day last December 10, which was attended by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque as representative of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Roque emphasized the “Duterte administration’s commitment and efforts in shaping a conducive and attractive business and investment environment for our foreign as well as domestic investors.”
“Particularly under the leadership of PEZA Director General Ching Plaza, we laud PEZA for its great balancing acts during this pandemic, which helped export-oriented enterprises to continue participating in the supply and demand in the global market while protecting the safety and welfare of the Filipino employees. With this, our valued enterprises immensely helped to keep the Philippine economy afloat and let thousands of our Filipino workforce retain their jobs,” said Roque.
The Investors' Recognition Day is the biggest annual event in PEZA, that is often celebrated with PEZA's Anniversary. Here, PEZA acknowledges the enormous and very considerable benefits that economic zones with its developers, economic zone locator enterprises, and other stakeholders contribute to the country's socio-economic growth and development.
“This is our way to appreciate our registered business enterprises for their relentless efforts and to boost their confidence in doing business in the Philippines. We thank our registered business enterprises for your continuous help to transform the Philippine economy into a thriving and vibrant one despite the challenges we are facing. PEZA would not be what it is today without all of you,” said PEZA Director General Charito “Ching” Plaza.
Also present in the PEZA Investors’ Day were Deputy Speaker Wes Gatchalian, CGPA Lt Gen Cirilito Sobejana, and virtually sending message of greeting were Vice President Leni Robredo and Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Under the Special Awards category, PEZA also opened three new recognitions for our registered business enterprises. The COVID-19 Response Award is given to PEZA-registered enterprises and economic zone developer – operators who were able to successfully establish policies and programs to avert the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the workplace.
The Green, Healthy, Smart, and Sustainable Ecozone Award on the other hand is given to company for their notable commitment to promoting healthy industrialization and sustainably-designed, smart, and green economic zone.
In recognition of PEZA enterprises’ patronage of locally manufactured/produced raw materials, and support to local suppliers, PEZA shall be giving the Galing Pinas! Award to PEZA-registered Ecozone Export Enterprises that are substantially utilizing locally manufactured/produced and/or grown raw materials in their export product.
List of Awardees
A total of 35 companies and developer-operators have been recognized for the major categories in the PEZA Excellence Awards, while 21 have been awarded under the special awards category.
Below is the list of PEZA’s ecozone locator companies and developer-operators who have showed exemplary performance in 2019 and were recognized during the event:
FOR OUTSTANDING EXPORTER
- Dyson Electronics Pte. Ltd. – Philippine Branch
- STMicroelectronics, Inc.
- B/E Aerospace B.V. – Phil Branch
- Continental Temic Electronics (Philippines), Inc.
- Wu Kong (S) Pte., Ltd. (Phil Branch)
- Sutherland Global Services Philippines, Inc.
- Concentrix Daksh Services Philippine Corporation
FOR OUTSTANDING EMPLOYER
- Concentrix Daksh Services Philippine Corporation (2nd Award)
- Concentrix CVG Philippines, Inc.
- EMS Components Assembly, Inc.
- Brother Industries (Philippines), Inc.
- ING Business Shared Services B.V. Branch Office
FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY PROJECT
- ING Business Shared Services B.V. Branch Office (2nd Award)
- Reed Elsevier Shared Services (Philippines), Inc.
- ON Semiconductor Philippines, Inc.
- Denso Philippines Corporation
- Telus International Philippines, Inc.
- WeServ Systems International, Inc.
- EY GDS (CS) Philippines, Inc.
- Philippine Sinter Corporation
- Alliance Mansols, Inc.
FOR OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
- Brother Industries (Philippines), Inc. (2nd Award)
- Canon Business Machines (Philippines) Inc.
- Analog Devices Gen. Trias, Inc.
- Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines, Corp.
- Denso Ten Philippines Corporation
ELEVATION TO THE HALL OF FAME
- JAE Philippines, Inc. - 2014, 2017, and 2019 Outstanding Employer Award
- PetroSolar Corporation - 2017, 2018, 2019 Outstanding Community Projects Award
- Techlog Center Philippines - 2017, 2018, 2019 Outstanding Community Projects Award
- Ibiden Philippines, Inc. - 2016, 2017, and 2019 Outstanding Community Projects Award
- Epson Precision (Philippines), Inc. - 2008, 2011, and 2019 Outstanding Environmental Performance Award
- Astec Power Philippines - 2014, 2017, and 2019 Outstanding Environmental Performance Award
- Laguna Auto-Parts Manufacturing Corporation - 2007, 2011, and 2019 Outstanding Environmental Performance Award
BILLIONAIRES AWARD
- TI (Philippines), Inc.
- Toshiba Information Equipment (Phils.), Inc.
SPECIAL CATEGORY
A. GREEN, HEALTHY, SMART, SUSTAINABLE ECOZONE AWARD
- First Philippine Industrial Park
- Science Park of the Philippines, Inc.
B. GALING PINAS! SPECIAL CITATION FOR LOCAL PURCHASES
- Cargill Oil Mills Philippines, Inc.
- House Technology Industries Pte. Ltd.
- Nidec Philippines Corporation
- Pilipinas Kao, Inc.
- Canon Business Machines (Philippines), Inc.
- EPSON Precision Philippines, Inc.
- Wu Kong (S) Pte., Ltd. (Phil Branch)
C. COVID-19 RESPONSE AWARD
- Analog Devices Gen. Trias, Inc.
- Enomoto Philippine Manufacturing Incorporated
- Knowles Electronics Philippines Corporation
- Lexmark Research and Development Corporation
- Maxim Philippines Operating Corporation
- Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata Inc.
- Taganito HPAL Nickel Corporation
- Taiyo Yuden (Philippines), Inc.
- Brother Industries Philippines
- EMS Group
- EPSON Precision Philippines, Inc
- Techlog Center Philippines
“I thank our investors for your continued trust and support for the local businesses that fuel our economy. May your confidence in the country never cease despite all the uncertainties surrounding us,” expressed Senate President Vicente Sotto III during his video message.
PEZA performance
Aside from the awarding, Director General Plaza also delivered her State of PEZA Address (SOPA) wherein she reported the Authority’s performance in the last 25 years and during this time of pandemic.
“Truly, the uncertainties brought about by the pandemic and the changes in the legislation affected us in the last years. Nevertheless, we continue our streak of good performance little-by-little,” remarked the PEZA Chief.
According to Plaza, “PEZA now manages 410 economic zones with a total of 4,605 locator companies being housed in the zones. The investments of these 4,605 locator companies in the zones have accumulated a whopping total of PhP 3.9 trillion during the last 25 years. Also, the export revenues of locator companies in the zones have reached US$ 839 billion and counting.”
The recent study of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also revealed that “Only PEZA registered year-on-year growth in foreign investment commitments during the July-to-September period with P20.3 billion, up 97 percent from P10.3 billion last year.”
As noted by Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo in her video message, “PEZA has done such a good job in taking care of our industry associations and foreign chambers that many of our partners are still investing here in our country and our people. Your contributions to the economy are undeniable.”
PEZA Balancing Acts
The PEZA Chief also reported PEZA’s great balancing acts which helped protect the health and welfare of our Filipino employees and the Philippine economy as a whole.
According to Plaza, “Our registered companies helped to keep the Philippine economy afloat and let thousands of our Filipino workforce retain their jobs. Without them, we might have been in a graver situation than we are now.”
Senator Sotto likewise applauded PEZA for its balancing acts. “With your efforts, our economy will be able to hurdle the challenges brought about by [the COVID-19] pandemic,” said Sotto.
“PEZA has lived 25 wonderful years. And as we proceed to the next 25 years of growing, improving, and fighting together, I pray that we all keep the same indomitable spirit and culture of excellence that set us apart from the rest (…) we also pray that amidst seeming difficult circumstances, PEZA can be a light and a symbol of hope for the country and for our fellow Filipinos,” stated Plaza.
The December 10 celebration also marked the official inauguration of the new PEZA office at 8th, 9th, and 10th floors of the Double Dragon Meridian Park, Corner Macapagal Avenue & EDSA Extension, Bay Area, Pasay.
PEZA’s performance under Duterte administration
Secretary Harry Roque also discussed in his keynote speech that “Under the Duterte administration, PEZA recorded a total of PhP 680.8 billion investments, a very significant portion of which comes from the development of new economic zones all over the country. PEZA was also able to create a total of 248,399 direct jobs and generate a total of US$ 157.858 Billion exports from July 2016 to June 2019 for the first three years of the Duterte administration.”
“We thank you for your continuous efforts to help the Government keep and attract foreign investments in the country and in promoting the creation of special economic zones especially in the countryside that will become economic drivers in every region,” he said.
He conveyed that this will greatly support Administrative Order No. 18, “Accelerating Rural Progress Through Robust Development of Special Economic Zones in the Countryside,” and Executive No. 114 or the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program.
Saying that COVID cannot stop us from doing our best for our country and our fellowmen, Roque assured investor that the Government, with the help of PEZA and other agencies, are doing everything revive and maintain an enabling and most conducive environment for investment in the years to come.
“We will bounce back from this crisis stronger than ever. At this point, on behalf of the Philippine government, let me reiterate our full and abiding support to you, our valued investors and to PEZA management and programs that promote ‘Galing Pinas, Galing Pinas’ – Made in the Philippines are the best, the Philippines is best to invest in,” he said. #