President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has authorized the establishment of two new Special Economic Zones and the expansion of two existing hubs in Calabarzon and Negros Oriental, an initiative expected to generate ₱9.7 billion in fresh capital investments.
The development was formalized through four separate presidential proclamations covering strategic locations in Cavite, Batangas, and Negros Oriental.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto emphasized that the expansion enables companies to set up facilities closer to provincial talent pools, stimulating local commercial growth while easing urban congestion.
“With these, businesses can go to where local talent is, boosting local economic activity, without workers having to leave their hometowns for costly and crammed urban centers,” Recto said.
He noted that the new ecozones are projected to create substantial employment opportunities and fortify provincial economies.
“Mas maraming trabaho at mas maraming oportunidad ang darating sa Cavite, Batangas, at Negros Oriental. Mas lalakas ang ekonomiya sa ating mga probinsya, at tuloy-tuloy ang pag-angat ng kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Under Proclamation 1337, additional land in Barangays Punta I and Sahud-Ulan in Tanza, Cavite, was integrated into the Suntrust Ecotown Tanza-Special Economic Zone. Currently home to 62 Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-registered locators and 6,322 workers, the site expansion aims to secure ₱851 million in new investments and generate roughly 2,200 jobs.
Proclamation 1338 approved the expansion of the Light Industry & Science Park IV-Special Economic Zone in Malvar, Batangas—a development estate hosting 43 PEZA-registered firms and 1,769 employees, which is targeted to absorb ₱8.5 billion in committed capital and yield 200 jobs.
In Negros Oriental, Proclamation 1340 officially declared the Robinsons Dumaguete I.T. Park as a Special Economic Zone, with a prospective locator eyeing a ₱288-million investment to employ 1,500 workers.
Meanwhile, Proclamation 1385 designated the Biz Hub at LIMA Estate in Barangay Bugtong na Pulo, Lipa City, Batangas, as an information technology Special Economic Zone, with an incoming tenant slated to invest ₱52.5 million and hire 110 employees.
Special Economic Zones serve as designated territories where eligible enterprises benefit from fiscal and non-fiscal incentives based on location and sector, encompassing industrial estates, export processing zones, IT parks, and tourism hubs.