PEZA strengthens collaborations with BARMM
Pasay City – The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) seeks to forge stronger partnership with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as both parties aim to utilize the ecozones program as a driver for economic growth and development for the autonomous region and the country.
“With BARMM’s increasing performance and growing economy among the regions, BARMM can take advantage of the ecozone program and attract the much-needed jobs, exports, local and national revenues, and other economic opportunities for the region. It is high time that the Bangsamoro people feel the economic benefits of its autonomy,” stated Promotions and Public Relations Group Manager Aleem Siddiqui Guiapal, who was representing PEZA Officer-in-Charge Tereso Panga in the briefing.
Establishment of BEZA
As the principal agency authorized to administer, manage, and develop economic zones nationwide, PEZA has organized a three-day benchmarking activity in its ecozones for delegates from BARMM. This is to guide the officials and staff from the autonomous region in their goal of establishing their own ecozones registrable under the Bangsamoro Economic Zone Authority (BEZA).
BARMM delegation, with speakers from PEZA and the Department of Finance representing the Fiscal Incentives Review Board,
during the August 30 briefing at the PEZA Head Office
“Ultimately, we recognize the autonomy of BARMM for the governance of its own BEZA, but we hope that this briefing and your visit in our ecozones will be insightful in your plans to craft policies and processes in the autonomous region and we hope we will be able to help them boost success of ecozones in BARMM,” noted Guiapal.
Article XIII Section 28 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (RA 11054) provides that the Regional Government shall encourage, promote, undertake, and support the establishment of economic zones, industrial centers and ports in strategic areas and growth centers of the Region to attract local and foreign investments and business enterprises.
He added, “We hope that its own BEZA will be able to mark its own milestones towards contributing to or achieving the economic benefits of the region’s political and economic autonomy.”
Strategic importance of ecozones
The briefing and visit of BARMM to PEZA aims to strengthen their own ecozones in the autonomous region. Moreover, BARMM like PEZA aim to align to the call of the President to utilize ecozones and the newly passed or amended laws that facilitate growth especially in the countryside and make the Philippines an investment destination for foreign direct investments.
In the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. last July 25, he highlighted the strategic importance of ecozones and the need to promote productivity-enhancing investments as we provide for the best ecosystem for efficiency-seeking locator investors.
“Guided by these, BARMM may look into attracting investments focused on Halal and Food processing among others or on high-tech industries and emerging technologies in the fields of industrial manufacturing transport, technology media and telecommunications, health and life sciences including mineral processing of green metals,” explained Guiapal.
For their part, Trade, Investments and Tourism Deputy Minister and OIC BEZA Executive Director Atty. Sukarno Abas expressed gratitude for the help of PEZA and hopes to submit the outcome of their visit to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) for approval so they can already take advantage of the ecozones program in the region.
At the moment, the Polloc Freeport and Economic Zone (PFEZ) is the only existing zone in the BARMM region. With the establishment of the BEZA, they hope to increase the presence of ecozones in the area to facilitate growth and development. #
No Comments