In a strategic move to boost industrial development and attract foreign investments, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued three new proclamations expanding the Philippines’ network of special economic zones.
The directives authorize the expansion of two major industrial ecozones in Cavite and Batangas, alongside the creation of a brand-new Information Technology (IT) park in Negros Oriental.
The expansion projects add over 699,000 square meters of designated economic territory, designed to spur regional economic growth and generate local employment.
The presidential directives breakdown into specific expansion and development zones across Luzon and the Visayas:
1. Cavite ecozone expansion (Proclamation No. 1337)
-
Location: Barangays Punta I and Sahud-Ulan, Municipality of Tanza, Cavite
-
Project: Inclusion into the existing Suntrust Ecotown Tanza-Special Economic Zone
-
Total Land Area: Approximately 331,348 square meters
-
Authority: Designated under Republic Act No. 7916 (Special Economic Zone Act of 1995), following recommendations from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Board of Directors.
2. Batangas ecozone expansion (Proclamation No. 1338)
-
Location: Barangays Luta Sur and San Fernando, Municipality of Malvar, Batangas
-
Project: Inclusion into the existing Light Industry & Science Park IV-Special Economic Zone
-
Total Land Area: Approximately 308,065 square meters
-
Authority: Governed by RA 7916 and explicitly backed by PEZA Board Resolution No. 24-275.
3. New Negros Oriental IT Park (Proclamation No. 1340)
-
Location: Dumaguete Business Park, Barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental
-
Project: Establishment of the Robinsons Dumaguete I.T. Park
-
Total Land Area: 60,000 square meters
-
Authority: Governed by RA 7916 and the updated National Internal Revenue Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 12066—better known as the CREATE MORE Act (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy). The inclusion of the CREATE MORE Act framework for the new Dumaguete IT Park ensures that incoming technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) firms can readily leverage enhanced tax incentives, cutting-edge infrastructure, and streamlined regulatory processes provided by PEZA.
