Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso O. Panga championed the exceptional talent and resilience of the Filipino workforce, calling them the country’s premier competitive edge during the 2026 TOWER (The Outstanding Workers of the Republic) Awards held on May 28, 2026, at the Fairmont Makati.
Organized by the Rotary Club of Manila (RCM), under the leadership of President Atty. Raoul Creencia, and held in partnership with PEZA and the Philippine Ecozones Association (PHILEA), the annual awards ceremony honors outstanding rank-and-file, blue-collar, and non-supervisory white-collar employees. The initiative celebrates individuals who demonstrate extraordinary excellence, innovation, and dedication to boosting productivity and global competitiveness within the nation’s economic zones.
Among this year’s distinguished honorees were exemplary workers from major PEZA locator companies, including Franklin Baker Company of the Philippines, Global 3D Systems, Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Inc., DOLE Philippines Inc., and DENSO Philippines Corporation.
In his keynote address, Director General Panga emphasized that the global recognition of the Filipino workforce stems from its technical expertise, adaptability, and an innovation-driven mindset. He noted that Filipino engineers and professionals are increasingly driving complex, high-value global operations across advanced sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, research and development (R&D), engineering design, and Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) services.
“By honoring exemplary Filipino workers, we affirm that investments create opportunities, but it is our people who transform those opportunities into productivity, growth, and hope for Filipino families,” Panga stated. “As we gather today to celebrate excellence in the workplace, we also honor the dignity of labor and the enduring spirit of the Filipino people—the true engines of our economy.”
The PEZA Chief noted that while the country’s business climate continues to improve, it is the world-class capability, productivity, and resilience of its workforce that remains the primary draw for international investors.
Aligning with the national agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to generate high-quality jobs and foster inclusive, sustainable growth, Panga reaffirmed PEZA’s dedication to expanding domestic talent opportunities. The agency aims to achieve this by deepening collaborations with industry stakeholders, ecozone locators, and development partners. Currently, PEZA oversees 436 economic zones nationwide, hosting over 4,300 locator companies and directly supporting more than 1.8 million jobs.
The prestigious event drew prominent leaders and officials, including RCM Chairman Jesus M. “Susing” Pineda Jr., PHILEA President Francisco S. Zaldarriaga, PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco, and GCash Vice President for Corporate Sustainability and Communications Michelle Fernandez. Ensuring a rigorous selection process, the 2026 TOWER Awards board of judges featured key technical experts, including PEZA Deputy Director General for Policy and Planning Emmanuel D. Cortero and MISCP Group Manager Rowena T. Naguit.
