President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has officially declared a 50,000-square-meter portion of the De La Salle University (DLSU) Science and Technology Complex in Biñan, Laguna, as a Knowledge, Innovation, Science and Technology (KIST) Ecozone.
The designation, formalized under Proclamation No. 985, identifies the area as the De La Salle University Innovation Hub, located within the Leandro V. Locsin Campus along Laguna Boulevard, Barangay Malamig.
Signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on 30 July, the proclamation aligns with the government's push to strengthen innovation ecosystems through academic and research institutions.
The KIST Ecozone initiative supports research advancement, skills development, R&D commercialization, and the promotion of techno-entrepreneurship, particularly in state universities and colleges.
The move was made upon the recommendation of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Board of Directors and is in accordance with Republic Act No. 7916, or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995, as amended by RA 8748, along with its implementing rules and PEZA Board Resolutions, including Resolution No. 23-113 (s. 2023).
The proclaimed ecozone covers the land identified as Lot 2708-B-7-B-2, Psd-04-268517, under Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. 060-2011000244. The specific boundaries and technical descriptions are detailed in the official proclamation.
The establishment of the DLSU Innovation Hub as a KIST Ecozone is expected to bolster the country’s innovation landscape and foster stronger collaboration between academia and industry.