Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) director-general Tereso Panga has been getting much support from various economic zone locators, companies, and members of ecozone associations, following his courtesy resignation in compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for all investment promotion agencies (IPA) and government-owned and controlled corporation heads to vacate their post.

Among those who vouched for Panga’s performance was Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, who on Monday said she assumes that all “IPA heads will be retained,” including PEZA chief Panga.

When asked whether or not she thinks the President would retain Panga in his post, Roque said, “I think so because the whole DTI (team) is doing a good job. We surpassed our targets last year. I am sure they will stay. But still again, the President will have the final say as they are Presidential appointees. We don’t recommend it, but if they ask us, then we can suggest it. But we all serve at the pleasure of the President,” she said.

The President’s plans 

Roque, as DTI secretary, also sits as Chairperson of the governing PEZA Board.

“They are part of our team, so we make sure that other members will (really) perform as expected because we must deliver what is expected of us. However, we don’t know the plans of our President as he may have other plans that are much better than our plans,” Roque added.

For his part, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, Secretary Frederick Go, echoed Secretary Roque in saying that all IPAs have performed well.

“I think the IPAs are doing a good job, in my opinion,” Go said in a chance interview.

Meanwhile, the PEZA Employees Association, in a 28 May press release statement signed by its president Mark Kevin Samson, also threw its support for Panga.

Milestones

The association maintained that under the leadership of Panga, PEZA has achieved substantial milestones, including a significant increase in investment approvals, job generation, and PEZA’s pivotal role as a key contributor to the Philippine economy.

“His administration has recorded consistent increases in investment approvals, including over P52.9 billion worth of investments in the first two months of 2025 alone, proof of the strong investor confidence he continues to inspire.” the group said, adding that “thousands of jobs have been created under his term, and PEZA has remained a vital engine of growth and industrial development in the Philippines.”

The employee association also extolled Panga for earning the respect of the global investment community, following his confernment of the Icon of Change Award for championing Sustainable Development Goal No. 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and the Global Excellence in Leadership and Investment Award.

“More than these recognitions, DG Panga has consistently been at the forefront of addressing long-standing concerns of PEZA-registered enterprises. He has actively pushed for policy reforms, including the amendment of the CREATE Act, to better align with the needs of our stakeholders. He has also provided steady and pragmatic guidance during the implementation of the Work-from-Home arrangements for IT-BPM enterprises, ensuring business continuity while protecting the integrity of the PEZA incentive system,” the group stated.

Aside from his employees, Panga’s reinstatement as PEZA chief was backed by the Mactan Export Processing Zone Chamber of Exporters and Manufacturers, Cavite Export Zone Investors Association, and the bigger Philippine Exporters Confederation of the Philippines.

President’s call

After receiving the memo from the Office of the President last week, Panga said he complied as a career appointee of the President, in support of the President’s call for a bureaucratic reset.

“In the meantime, operations are normal at PEZA as we continue to serve the needs of Registered Business Enterprises, the Business Community, and continue to acquire new investments for our country. We will continue to work and ensure that PEZA remains a crucial performing agency in the economic team of the President,” Panga said in a Facebook post on Sunday.