Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Tereso O. Panga and Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John E. Uy signed a Memorandum of Understanding last 18 May at PEZA Head Office for a more synchronized and well-coordinated ICT system in the ecozones. 

According to Panga, “This partnership is our agencies’ response to the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to ramp up digitalization in government to ensure fast and efficient delivery of services to the public.

Additionally, PEZA is committed to carrying out DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual’s directive to adopt digital transformation to boost the country’s competitiveness as an investment destination, particularly for high-tech and innovator accelerator companies.” 

“We are once again making another breakthrough as we continuously enhance data security, transparency, and government transactions to better serve our ecozone developers, locators, and investors making the country more conducive to do and expand businesses with,” the Director General added. 

Agreeing with Marcos’ vision for digital transformation, Uy expressed confidence that the MOU signing for e-governance between PEZA and DICT will unify everyone as one government to push for the use of a single operating system for all government transactions. 

This aims to ensure faster, more streamlined, and more convenient delivery of government services in the country. 

In support of the government’s digitalization efforts, the signing ceremony proved to strengthen collaborations between PEZA and DICT in achieving and promoting the interconnection and interoperability of their respective systems.

Panga highlighted that with the DICT’s help and guidance, the efforts that PEZA has exerted throughout these years, in connection with digitalization, will continue and remain steadfast. That is to enhance office and administrative efficiencies, customer satisfaction, and the delivery of services for a much-improved ease of doing business. 

Under the signed MOU, the DICT will assess and evaluate as well as assist in the development and enhancement of current applications and systems of PEZA.

It will also provide recommendations and strategies for the improvement of the agency’s ICT system. The DICT will also provide an appraisal of the programs and projects that both agencies may agree to develop. It will make sure identified and existing applications and systems of PEZA will be integrated with DICT and of the digitalization aspect of the President’s 8-Point Socio-Economic Agenda. 

PEZA, being DICT’s digital transformation partner, will in turn provide guidance on its processes and relevant information and data to DICT ensuring that respective systems and applications are interoperable. 

“By adopting e-governance and advancing the development of various solutions, together, we can eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies, reduce red tape, and provide faster and more convenient access to critical government services,” Uy stated. 

Likewise, Panga shared that “PEZA has recently rolled out its e-payment system and is set to launch its e-LOA in June this year to automate the remaining office processes to further enhance the facilitation of ecozone shipments. This will make PEZA among the trailblazers in government into cashless and paperless transactions.”  

PEZA is also eyeing other high-impact IT infrastructure and automation projects for implementation this year. They include hybrid internet connectivity in the ecozones, an e-container tracking system with the Bureau of Customs, electronic visa, and building permits, an e-financial management system, an Engineering Permits Assessment Monitoring System, a digital marketplace, full integration of the public ecozone command centers, and cyber security solutions.