Peza pushes more ecozones in NegOcc
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) is pushing for more economic zones (ecozones), including in Negros Occidental, in its bid to further generate jobs in the countryside.
Peza Director General Charito Plaza, who was in Bacolod City Tuesday, said the agency continues to invite local government units (LGUs) and private land owners to become ecozones to invite different global industries to locate in the country.
She said the problem before was there were many interested investors, but they did not know where to locate their industries.
“Now, they don’t need business consultants to look for locations because Peza is already providing the different types of ecozones as locations of various industries,” Plaza said, adding that more industries would result to more employment.
There are currently 22 Peza-registered ecozones in Negros Occidental. Of which, 15 are operational IT parks, mostly in Bacolod City, hosting at least 25 business process outsourcing (BPO) firms and locators.
The other one is in San Carlos City, an export processing zone, while the remaining six are presidentially proclaimed ecozones but not yet operational.
The figures form part of the total 379 ecozones in the country comprising 4,099 industries, the Peza records showed.
Despite the good tax incentives given to registered industries, the Peza recognized various factors and challenges affecting the push for expansion of ecozones in the country.
Plaza cited the lack of seaports and airports, which is an added cost to the industries, particularly in the transport of products.
Thus, Peza is now working with the Department of Transportation since big provinces should have international airport and seaport, she said.
Other factors cited by the Peza include lack of manpower, higher cost of power, and peace and order concerns, among others.
Most BPOs are in big cities like Metro Manila, Cebu and Bacolod and not yet in the countryside because of issues on peace and order which have to be addressed, Plaza said.
Peza also recognized the need for capitalization so it is working with the banks in providing credit facilities for ecozones development and capital for the industries.
Plaza also acknowledged that the agency lacks marketing and promotion in terms of expanding ecozones. About 99 percent of the entire industries just heard about Peza.
“What I am doing now is talking to everybody, including the regional development councils, mayors, governors, business chambers, big private land owners, and national agencies managing public lands,” she added.
In Negros Occidental, Plaza cited agriculture as one potential industry to further develop sugar and also develop other abundant crops.
Peza targets to have at least two ecozones, preferably horizontal like factories, in every LGU before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends.
“We hope to minimize importation by maximizing exportation and productivity,” Plaza said, adding that “we will turn all idle lands into different types of ecozones to invite all industries to come here.”