Pasay City – Under the leadership of Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Charito ‘Ching’ B. Plaza, the Authority now focuses on the creation of more oil depots, refineries, agro-industrial and renewable energy special economic zones (SEZs) for self-reliance and sustainable economy as a new administration is set to start in July.
According to PEZA Chief Plaza, “The only way to survive from these enormous and continuing global threats and challenges is to be self-reliant and self-sustaining. Maximizing in a sustainable way our country’s production, manufacturing, refinery, and other capabilities by utilizing our rich lands, and natural and human resources responsibly can greatly contribute to the global competitiveness of our country—especially under the regime of President Marcos Jr.”
With the increasing threats of inflation and global recession, the Director General highlighted, “Identifying and creating islands such as for oil depot and refinery special economic zones is one of PEZA’s responses to oil crisis and price increase on foods [in our country].”
Called by many as a visionary leader, Plaza initiated the creation of different types of special economic zones to attract different types of industries while relentlessly promoting PEZA’s two (2) non-negotiable factors for investors.
First, the rights of our workers and investors, and second, the compliance with both labor and environmental laws must be guaranteed.
Plaza assured, “We are committed to making ecozones not just smart and digitalized but also green and ecologically sound.”
More economic zones in the countryside
Presently, the PEZA Law provides the registration of export-oriented industries which are into manufacturing, refinery, processing, assembly, IT-BPO, tourism, medical tourism, and agro-industrial.
Geared by PEZA Transformation Road Map (TRM), the Authority is dedicated to restoring back economic development and the wood industry, particularly in the countryside.
Director General Plaza said, “By establishing more new types of ecozones such as the renewable energy eco-industrial park, agro-forestry, aquamarine, pharmaceutical, and mineral, we are utilizing our natural resources so we can [finally] put a stop to exporting raw minerals and instead, produce [finished] high-quality products.”
Further, she mentioned, “As part of our TRM, we are also promoting a more diverse economic zones through halal hubs and production zones so we can attract Muslim investors here and abroad. To date, we have identified 18 locations in Mindanao such as in Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur and del Norte, Davao City, and the BARMM areas among others.”
Meanwhile, to attract defense industries, the PEZA Chief mentioned, “We are also looking to create more defense industrial complexes from the military reservations areas to attract defense industries that are manufacturing military aircraft, sea crafts, vehicles, equipment, uniforms and all the needs of the uniformed institutions.”
Much to be done
Plaza believes that “PEZA and our country as a whole have indeed come a long way and have survived various economic, natural, and pandemic challenges. However, there is still much to be done especially in industrializing our country especially now that we are headed towards reopening our economy in this ‘new normal’ under a new and investor-friendly President Marcos Jr.’s administration leadership.”
She re-emphasized, “Ecozone creation is an effective driver for economic growth as it paves the way for the generation of jobs, revenues, and investments in the host localities. At the same time, economic zones will provide interventions to strengthen economic recovery and growth as well as also support global value chain integration, industrial upgrading, and industrial diversification of countries.” #