MANILA – The government has added four economic zones in Cavite, Batangas and Negros Oriental, with the new and expanded areas expected to draw almost PHP9.7 billion in investments and provide new employment opportunities.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said Monday the latest proclamations bring to 46 the economic zones created or expanded during the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Collectively, the 46 zones are projected to generate PHP141.2 billion in investments and nearly 189,000 jobs. Most are outside the National Capital Region, with 29 in Luzon, 12 in the Visayas and five in Mindanao. Only three are located within Metro Manila.
Recto said the initiative is designed to encourage businesses to establish operations where skilled local workers are available, helping provinces generate economic activity while reducing the need for residents to move to crowded urban centers.
The latest expansion includes the Suntrust Ecotown Tanza-Special Economic Zone in Cavite. Under Proclamation No. 1337, additional properties in Barangays Punta I and Sahud-Ulan were incorporated into the zone. It currently hosts 62 PEZA-registered companies with 6,322 employees and is projected to gain PHP851 million in investments and 2,200 jobs.
In Malvar, Batangas, Proclamation No. 1338 expanded the Light Industry & Science Park IV-Special Economic Zone. The area has 43 registered enterprises employing about 1,769 workers, with the expansion expected to generate PHP8.5 billion in committed investments and 200 jobs.
Proclamation No. 1340 established the Robinsons Dumaguete IT Park in Negros Oriental. A prospective locator is expected to invest PHP288 million and create 1,500 jobs.
Another Batangas development, the Biz Hub at LIMA Estate in Lipa City, was declared a special IT economic zone under Proclamation No. 1385. Its prospective locator is expected to invest PHP52.5 million and employ 110 workers.
Economic zones offer qualified businesses various fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to encourage investments and employment.
