President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued three proclamations expanding the country’s network of special economic zones through the addition of land to existing ecozones in Cavite and Batangas and the creation of a new information technology park in Negros Oriental.
Under Proclamation No. 1337, several parcels of land in Barangays Punta I and Sahud-Ulan in Tanza, Cavite, were designated for inclusion in the existing Suntrust Ecotown Tanza-Special Economic Zone.
The additional area covers approximately 331,348 square meters.
The designation was made under Republic Act No. 7916, or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995, as amended by Republic Act No. 8748, following the recommendation of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority Board of Directors.
Proclamation No. 1338, meanwhile, designated several parcels of land in Barangays Luta Sur and San Fernando in Malvar, Batangas, for inclusion in the existing Light Industry & Science Park IV-Special Economic Zone.
The expansion covers a combined area of approximately 308,065 square meters.
It is subject to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7916, as amended, its implementing rules and regulations, and PEZA Board Resolution No. 24-275, Series of 2024.
Under Proclamation No. 1340, Marcos created and designated a 60,000-square-meter property at Dumaguete Business Park in Barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete City, as the Robinsons Dumaguete I.T. Park.
The property will operate as a Special Economic Zone classified as an Information Technology Park.
The proclamation states that the new IT park will be governed by Republic Act No. 7916, as amended, and Republic Act No. 8424, or the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended by Republic Act No. 12066, or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy Act.
The applicable implementing rules and regulations, as well as PEZA Board resolutions, will also govern the economic zone.
The three proclamations were signed by Acting Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto on July 6.