President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expanded the country’s investment footprint by issuing proclamations declaring additional parcels of land to be incorporated to existing special economic zones (ecozones) in Cavite and Batangas, and to create a new information technology park in Negros Oriental to attract more investments and generate jobs.
The President issued Proclamation Nos. 1337, 1338 and 1340, all signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto by authority of the President, on July 6.
Under Proclamation No. 1337, Marcos designated about 331,348 square meters of land in Barangays Punta I and Sahud-Ulan, Tanza, Cavite, for inclusion in the existing Suntrust Ecotown Tanza-Special Economic Zone.
The expansion was made pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 7916, or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995, as amended by RA 8748, upon the recommendation of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Board of Directors.
Meanwhile, Proclamation No. 1338 added around 308,065 square meters of land in Barangays Luta Sur and San Fernando, Malvar, Batangas, to the existing Light Industry & Science Park IV-Special Economic Zone.
The expansion is subject to the provisions of RA 7916, as amended, its implementing rules and regulations, and PEZA Board Resolution No. 24-275 (s. 2024).
Marcos also issued Proclamation No. 1340 creating the Robinsons Dumaguete I.T. Park, a 60,000-square-meter Information Technology Park inside the Dumaguete Business Park in Barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
The new IT park will operate under the Special Economic Zone Act, the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the CREATE MORE (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy) Act, and other applicable PEZA rules and regulations.
The creation and expansion of ecozones form part of the government’s efforts to strengthen regional economic development by attracting investments, expanding business activity outside Metro Manila, and creating employment opportunities in the countryside.
PEZA-administered ecozones provide investors with fiscal and non-fiscal incentives while serving as hubs for manufacturing, information technology, logistics, and export-oriented industries. (PNA)
