President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed four presidential proclamations expanding two economic zones in Southern Tagalog and establishing two others in Negros Oriental and Batangas, bringing the total number of ecozones developed during his administration to 46.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto confirmed that these 46 ecozones are projected to bring in P141.2 billion in total investments and create approximately 189,000 jobs nationwide. The four newest proclamations alone account for nearly PHP 9.7 billion in fresh capital investments.
Except for three, all 46 ecozones are located outside Metro Manila, aligning with the administration’s goal of dispersing investments to rural areas. By region, 29 of the ecozones are located in Luzon, 12 in the Visayas, and five in Mindanao.
“With these, businesses can go to where local talent is, boosting local economic activity, without workers having to leave their hometowns for costly and crammed urban centers,” Recto said.
“Mas maraming trabaho at mas maraming oportunidad ang darating sa Cavite, Batangas, at Negros Oriental. Mas lalakas ang ekonomiya sa ating mga probinsya, at tuloy-tuloy ang pag-angat ng kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Under Proclamation No. 1337, several parcels of land in Barangays Punta I and Sahud-Ulan in Tanza, Cavite, are integrated into the Suntrust Ecotown Tanza-Special Economic Zone. The existing zone hosts 62 Philippine Economic Zone Authority registered enterprises employing 6,322 workers. Its expansion is expected to draw P851 million in new investments and generate roughly 2,200 jobs.
In Batangas, Proclamation No. 1338 expands the Light Industry & Science Park IV-Special Economic Zone in Malvar. Currently home to 43 enterprises and 1,769 workers, the site will unlock P8.5 billion in committed investments while adding 200 jobs.
Proclamation No. 1385 establishes the Biz Hub at LIMA Estate in Lipa City, Batangas, as an IT Special Economic Zone. An incoming locator is expected to invest P52.5 million and employ 110 workers, strengthening the city’s standing as a hub for technology-driven enterprises.
In the Visayas region, Proclamation No. 1340 establishes the Robinsons Dumaguete I.T. Park in Negros Oriental. A prospective locator is set to invest P288 million and create 1,500 jobs, opening high-value opportunities in the information technology and business process management sectors.
Special Economic Zones are designated areas where companies receive fiscal and non-fiscal incentives based on location and industry priority. These zones include industrial estates, export processing zones, IT parks and tourism facilities.