After signing four proclamations that expanded two economic zones in Southern Tagalog and established two new ones in Negros Oriental and Batangas, the number of ecozones declared during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reached 46. These are projected to attract P141.2 billion in investments and generate nearly 189,000 jobs.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said 43 of the 46 ecozones are outside Metro Manila, consistent with the administration’s thrust to disperse investments to the countryside.

By region, 29 ecozones are in Luzon, 12 in the Visayas and five in Mindanao, Recto said.

The four newest presidential proclamations are expected to attract nearly P9.7 billion in fresh investments.

“With these, businesses can go to where local talent is, boosting local economic activity, without workers having to leave their hometowns for costly and crammed urban centers,” Recto said.

Edict integrates zones

 Proclamation 1337 integrates several parcels of land in Barangays Punta I and Sahud-Ulan in the Municipality of Tanza, Cavite into the existing Suntrust Ecotown Tanza-Special Economic Zone (SET-SEZ).

The SET-SEZ currently hosts 62 Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-registered enterprises employing 6,322 workers.

The expansion is expected to attract approximately P851 million in new investments and generate around 2,200 jobs, further strengthening Cavite’s position as one of the country’s leading manufacturing and industrial hubs.

Proclamation 1338 expands the Light Industry & Science Park IV-Special Economic Zone (LISP IV-SEZ) in Malvar, Batangas, which currently houses 43 PEZA-registered enterprises with approximately 1,769 workers.

LISP IV-SEZ’s expansion is key to unlocking P8.5 billion in committed investments, creating 200 new jobs, and sustaining Batangas’ growth as a major destination for manufacturing and industry.

In Negros Oriental, Proclamation No. 1340 established the Robinsons Dumaguete I.T. Park, which already has a prospective locator expected to invest P288 million and generate 1,500 jobs, broadening high-value employment opportunities in the information technology and business process management sectors in the Visayas.

Meanwhile, Proclamation 1385 establishes the Biz Hub at LIMA Estate in Barangay Bugtong na Pulo, Lipa City, Batangas, as a Special Economic Zone for information technology.

The IT park already has a prospective locator expected to invest P52.5 million and employ 110 workers, adding fresh momentum to Lipa City’s emergence as a center for technology-driven businesses and quality employment.

SEZs are designated areas where businesses can enjoy fiscal and non-fiscal incentives and privileges, depending on their location and industry priority, which include industrial estates, export processing zones, information technology parks, tourism and recreational economic zones and others.