THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said that five economic zone (ecozone) projects valued at a combined P5.13 billion could be proclaimed by next month at the earliest.

“We are hoping that within the next one or two months it should be out already because there are investors waiting to sign up with us to (locate) in these ecozones,” PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga told reporters on the sidelines of a briefing, referring to the five ecozone projects.

The five projects are Megaworld’s ArcoVia City, an IT center in Pasig; MetroCas Industrial Estates-Special Economic Zone in Tanza, Cavite; Suyo Economic Zone in Ilocos Sur, and Parqal and 8912 Asean Avenue, both in Parañaque.

So far 10 ecozone projects have been proclaimed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

Proclamation No. 330 issued on Aug. 29 involved the expansion of Sarangani’s Kamanga Agro-Industrial Economic Zone.

Three economic zones were proclaimed on July 25 — the Naga City Industrial Park, Lopue’s Mandalangan IT Center in Bacolod City and the Marina Town Dumaguete.

The other proclaimed projects are the ECCO 4 Building in Baguio, Felcris Centrale IT Park in Davao, Philtal Central Luzon Industrial Park, Robinsons Cyberpark Bacolod and the expansions of Lima Technology Center in Batangas and Hermosa Ecozone Industrial Park in Bataan.

Mr. Panga said that the number of ecozones proclaimed this year could exceed the total number of proclamations last year.

“Last year, definitely, we had less than 20 proclamations. So, I think we can exceed the performance level of last year,” PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga told reporters recently.

Mr. Panga also said that the PEZA board has approved the ecozone applications of 16 projects which are expected to bring in P40.65 billion worth of investment. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

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