The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently signed a Data Sharing Agreement to enhance national security and streamline the processing of PEZA Visas.

On 21 January 2025, PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga and BI Commissioner Atty. Joel Anthony M. Viado led the signing ceremony at the PEZA Head Office, marking a crucial step in advancing efficient and secure visa processing for foreign investors and workers within PEZA-registered ecozones.

The agreement builds on the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) established in 2021, which has played a key role in ensuring that the issuance of PEZA Visas remains secure, transparent, and compliant with Philippine laws, including the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and regulations set by the National Privacy Commission (NPC).

PEZA Director General Panga emphasized the importance of the partnership, stating that facilitating trade and investments does not only depend on the efficient cross-border movement of goods and capital but also on the smooth movement of people.

He highlighted that the agreement is particularly beneficial for foreign nationals working in ecozones, including top executives, engineers, machine technicians, and knowledge workers, all of whom play a vital role in sustaining the ecozone supply and value chains.

BI Commissioner Viado, for his part, underscored the significance of the agreement, stressing that the collaboration would allow the agencies to enhance data security while expediting the visa process for foreign nationals and their dependents.

He further noted that this initiative aligns with the requirements of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, which mandates government agencies to simplify and improve their processes.

As of December 2024, a total of 16,299 PEZA Visas were issued to principals of PEZA-registered business enterprises, along with 5,286 visas for their dependents, accounting for a total of 21,585.

The top recipients of PEZA Visas include foreign nationals from Japan, India, China, South Korea, and Taiwan.