PEZA SEEKS HELP FROM JAPAN

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) will seek Japan’s help in crafting a masterplan for the economic zones to ensure the inclusion of all the necessary infrastructure that will make the country an even more attractive location for investors.

“Peza is seeking the help of Japan, maybe through its Japan International Cooperation Agency or other overseas development assistance agency, because we will undergo a masterplanning and designing of the different ecozones in the Philippines to include the infrastructure facilities, roads, railways, among others,” Peza director general Charito B. Plaza explained last week.

According to Plaza, the general idea was for every ecozone to have its own sustainable supply of power and water as well as stable telecommunications services.

Peza is set to invite power companies, for instance, to set up renewable energy projects to cater to the locators of that particular ecozone, or a water utility firm to make the necessary investments within the area.

“Ultimately, from an ecozone with manufacturing facilities, the aim of Peza is to build towns, which can later become industrial cities. We will also then invite banks, schools, medical facilities, malls, hotels, and retirement villages to locate within the zone,” the Peza chief added.

Plaza, however, did not indicate any specific timetable for the completion of the masterplan.

A similar proposal was made by the royal families of Qatar and Dubai.

They have expressed interest to lease a million hectares in different idle islands in the Philippines to set up agro-forestry and agro-industrial zones, energy centers and refineries, as well as industrial cities.

According to Plaza, they are now looking to build and create special ecozones in all provinces.

The target was to have a map of potential ecozones by January 2017.

As of end-July 2016, there are 72 manufacturing ecozones; 234 information technology parks and centers; 21 agro-industrial ecozones; 19 tourism ecozones; and two medical tourism parks in the country.

There are also 29 special ecozones that are due for approval by President Duterte.