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The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is urging the development of idle public lands in Mindanao into special economic zones
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PEZA director-general Charito Plaza said turning idle lands into ecozones will trigger economic growth, create jobs, and contribute to countryside development
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is urging Congress and local government leaders to declare idle public lands in Mindanao for development into special economic zones.
PEZA director general Charito Plaza urged Mindanaoan leaders in local and national offices, as well as those in Congress, to file a resolution seeking to declare idle public lands in the country’s south as areas to be developed into special ecozones.
Plaza, talking in a recent multi-stakeholder forum with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA), said the development of idle lands into special ecozones provides “the opportunity to trigger economic growth, creation of jobs, develop the countryside.”
“Let’s proclaim public lands in every region to become public economic zones so we can contribute to the total development, peace and prosperity of the country,” Plaza added.
She added that ecozones will drive economic recovery and growth in every region, “which will help create jobs for the locals, complete the supply needs in the area, and make enterprises participate in the global supply chain.”
In turn, this will spur socio-economic progress and reduce crime and poverty incidence in the regions, she said.
PEZA noted this proposal is in line with the President’s Administrative Order No. 18, which seeks to promote rural development, ensure inclusive growth in the countryside, and create robust economic activity and wealth generation in areas outside of Metro Manila.
There are currently 37 ecozones in Mindanao, with 17 in Davao, 10 in Northern Mindanao, eight in Soccsksargen, and one each in Zamboanga and Caraga. Of these ecozones, 12 are agro-industrial, 15 are information and technology parks, eight are manufacturing, and one is tourism.
MinDA secretary Emmanuel Piñol and SPDA administrator Abdulghani Ajul Salapuddin, meanwhile, also pushed for increased budget allocation for Mindanao in the 2022 budget.
Senate majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, in response, assured legislative support for next year’s budget and other resolutions put forward at the multi-stakeholder gathering.
PEZA last year partnered with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and local government units in creating special ecozones in the countryside so economic growth, jobs, transfer of technology and land development will be realized.
