PEZA Director General Charito Plaza (Photo courtesy of PEZA)
MANILA – Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Charito Plaza has underscored the role of establishing more economic zones particularly in the countryside as part of the country’s recovery plan amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
In a statement Wednesday, Plaza said creating more ecozones will generate job opportunities for Filipinos and will hasten development in areas outside Metro Manila.
“Ecozones will be drivers for economic recovery and growth in every region, which will help create jobs for the locals and complete the supply needs in the area. When people have jobs, consumption increases and local production booms. This will, in turn, boost socio-economic progress as well as reduce crime and poverty incidence in our regions as experienced by LGU (local government unit) hosts,” she added.
The PEZA chief said during the first half of the year, President Rodrigo Duterte signed 12 proclamations for new PEZA-registered ecozones.
Sixty-three applications are pending for Duterte’s signature.
“Covid-19 cannot stop PEZA and LGUs from industrializing our country and being an investment haven in Asia. PEZA stays committed to its 10-point programs that aim to address the efficiency factors towards attracting and assisting investors; to create a globally competitive, sustainable, and environment-friendly business environment in our economic zones; and to train and transform Filipino workers into multi-knowledge, multi-skilled, rich human capital, and world-class workers,” Plaza said.
The Philippine economy shrank by 16.5 percent in the second quarter of the year as the government-imposed lockdown measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Government data also recorded the highest unemployment rate in April 2020 at 17.7 percent as companies struggle to survive amid the pandemic.
The government is infusing a stimulus package into a recovery plan amid the pandemic.
Meanwhile, PEZA has approved PHP52.01 billion worth of investment pledges from January to July this year.
“Even with the difficulties brought about by the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic, PEZA continues to attract investors to the country and promote the creation of special economic zones especially in the countryside that will become economic drivers in every region,” Plaza earlier said. (PNA)
