Neda eyes development of 7 ecozones in Mindanao
SEVEN industrial and economic zones in Mindanao are being eyed to be developed and established as part of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)’s Mindanao Strategic Development Framework (MSDF) 2020.
“These are some of the priority programs, projects, and activities for implementation over this plan period and all the way up to 2045 as we find it in the Mindanao Development Framework. This will include development and operationalization of industrial estates and some of these are region-specific,” said Maria Lourdes Lim, Neda 11 Davao regional director, during her presentation of the MSDF 2020 at the reintegration consultation for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) last April 20, 2017, at the Grand Regal Hotel.
A Freeport Zone at the Island Garden City of Samal will be developed for Davao Region while two projects are in line for Soccsksargen with the development of Makar Freeport in General Santos City and of the Maasim-Kiamba-Maitum Industrial Triangle (Makima-IT).
The Philnico Industrial Estate Special Economic Zone in Surigao City will also be developed and made operational as with the Iligan City’s Metro Iligan Regional Agro-Industrial Center (MIRAIC).
For the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, a public freeport in Maguindanao will also be developed as well.
The MSDF 2020 envisions the Mindanao to be “peaceful and socially inclusive… with a strong, sustainable, competitive, ICT-driven, agri-industrial, and resource-based economy that is responsive to local and global opportunities.”