The lifting of the moratorium on expansion of information technology (IT) zones in the National Capital Region (NCR) will help bolster the country’s position as a top global site for digital services, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said.

Malacañang has announced the lifting of Administrative Order (AO) 18, which trade officials have requested a few years back to allow more firms to put up office spaces in the country’s capital that will accommodate tech-based companies.

“This major policy reform is a resounding victory for the IT-BPM (information technology-business process management) sector and a decisive step forward in strengthening the Philippines’ position as a premier global destination for digital services,” Roque said in a statement Tuesday.

“By reopening the NCR to new IT ecozones and targeted expansion, we are addressing long-standing investor demand, unlocking significant real estate opportunities, and revitalizing the ecosystem that drives our country’s digital economy.”

The previous administration banned the construction of new IT economic zones in Metro Manila, which provide incentives to real property developers and their locators, to encourage more investments in the countryside.

However, authorities said investors still prefer to locate in Metro Manila and AO 18 hampered this.

Roque said lifting the AO “is a testament to the strong collaboration between the DTI, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and our industry stakeholders who strongly advocated for this reform.”

“As we open new avenues for growth in Metro Manila alongside our continuous push to develop regional IT hubs, we are positioning the IT-BPM sector to generate thousands of high-quality jobs, attract foreign direct investments, and ensure economic growth nationwide,” she said.

“We invite our global partners and prospective investors to take full advantage of this renewed momentum and build their future here in the Philippines.” (PNA)