PEZA planning seamless process for export, investor-visa documentation
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it will streamline documentation requirements further in the first half of the year, with plans to integrate its permit processes with those of the bureaus of Customs (BoC) and Immigration (BI).
PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga added that the recent reforms announced by the government will help boost the competitiveness of the Philippines as an investment destination in the region.
“For PEZA, these reforms are treated as operational imperatives. In fact, we go beyond our integrity pledge by embedding PEZA’s integrity framework in our operating systems,” he said in a social media post.
“In support of these big bold reforms, PEZA will formally roll out this month our export documentation under the permit management system (PMS) module of the PEZA One Portal System,” he added.
In the first half, Mr. Panga expects the module to also include its ecozone transfer system to be bundled with the e-LoA (letter of authority).
“(This will) make our electronic permitting and monitoring systems seamless with the Bureau of Customs,” he added.
In the first quarter, PEZA is also set to launch the PEZA Visa Online System with the Bureau of Immigration.
“(This will) make the issuance of PEZA visas for foreign nationals and their dependents faster, more predictable, and investor-friendly,” he added.
The agency will also be working with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for the establishment of a dedicated registered business enterprise taxpayer service.
PEZA will also be working with the Board of Investments (BoI) for the implementation of the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) and the Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) programs.
“Big reforms matter, and PEZA is ready to execute and partner with other government agencies to create synergies that ensure outcomes that create a better ecosystem for domestic and international investors within and outside of the ecozones,” he said.
He said that if the Philippines maintains its status as one of the fastest-growing economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the country “can aspire to be number 2 or 3 in ASEAN in terms of foreign direct investment, exports, and real gross domestic product. — Justine Irish D. Tabile
