Pasay City – In keeping with the national government’s efforts to spur economic growth particularly in the countryside, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has signed on Monday 31 January, a Registration Agreement (RA) with the Achievement Realty Corporation (ARC) Chairman Philip M. Cea for the establishment of the “Quezon Techno-Industrial Special Economic Zone” (QTISEZ) in Barangays Rosario and San Jose, in Mauban, which is a 1st class municipality in the province of Quezon.
Pursuant to Proclamation No. 1277 dated 17 January 2022 and the provisions of the Republic Act No. 7916 or the “Special Economic Zone Act of 1995”, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has approved the creation and designation of several parcels of land in the said barangays.
PEZA Director General Charito ‘Ching’ B. Plaza said, “QTISEZ is envisioned to have its own international seaport and international airport with an estimated budget of PhP 25 billion each from the total PhP125 billion cost of developing the 1,836 hectares Special Economic Zone. It will be the first international airport and seaport to be strategically located in Eastern part of Luzon.”
PEZA Director General Charito ‘Ching’ B. Plaza with OIC Deputy Director General for Operations Atty. Norma B. Tañag signed the Registration Agreement with the Achievement Realty Corporation (ARC) on 31 January 2022 for the creation of new special economic zone in CALABRZON known as the Quezon Techno-Industrial Special Economic Zone (QTISEZ)
“With the PhP 75 billion from the proposed development budget and under this signing, QTISEZ will create 2,000 factories and shall be instrumental in the creation of more than 200,000 jobs,” the PEZA Chief added.
ARC Chairman Philip Cea noted, “The said funding would come from foreign [and local] investors who have expressed interests in the project and we are already in talks with them.”
Biggest economic zone in PH
According to the PEZA Chief, “This huge investment ARC has entrusted to PEZA is going to be a historical project because this new economic zone shall come out, as of today, the future biggest economic zone in the Philippines.”
ARC Chairman Philip Cea expressed his gratitude to PEZA saying, “With our plans to build a seaport and airport in Quezon [as what PEZA Director General said], we would really need to have a big land to support 2,000 factories.”
Commending PEZA for its no red-tape policy and no corruption, Cea noted, “We appreciate Director General Plaza and your Agency’s assistance to promote ecozones, to utilize lands in Mauban, Quezon and for assisting us in inviting additional investors and locators to locate in QTISEZ.”
PEZA Director General Charito ‘Ching’ B. Plaza with OIC Deputy Director General for Operations Atty. Norma B. Tañag and representatives from Achievement Realty Corporation (ARC) presented the signed Registration Agreement to ARC Chairman Philip M. Cea via Zoom
Under the RA, the Achievement Realty Corporation (ARC) as an ecozone developer/operator is entitled to establish, develop, construct, administer, manage, and operate QTISEZ.
The ARC can also construct, install provide, operate, and maintain infrastructure facilities, utilities, communication system, sewage and drainage system among others either by itself or through another to effectively operate and pursue a viable business within the economic zone.
On operational matters under the signed RA, PEZA has the exclusive power and prerogative to permit, supervise, and control the entry and exit of all goods, machinery, and equipment, merchandise, and article to and from QTISEZ. Meanwhile, ARC is responsible for providing security and maintaining peace and order within the QTISEZ and shall pay to PEZA all applicable fees and agrees that PEZA may withhold, suspend, or disapprove permits.
Likewise, ARC Chairman Cea said, “With the aims of making QTISEZ as a township, around 200 hectares shall be dedicated to mixed use for the establishment of government offices, residential, commercial, and other sectors where our people can ‘live, work, and play’.”
He also mentioned that he has signed several Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chinese and Korean companies to invest in QTISEZ.
With this, Director General Plaza has encouraged the ARC Chairman stating, “We can invite your partner investors to join us in the groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the registration of QTISEZ and to officially start the creation of the international airport and seaport [in Eastern Luzon].”
Plaza also encouraged Cea to meet with the Chinese Ambassador informing the Embassy of the huge and monumental ecozone development project. Plaza believes they can help in bringing more stakeholders to the country and to QTISEZ. #