A Philippines Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) official said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to develop more economic zones in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
According to PEZA deputy director general Aleen Siddiqui Guiapal, the President sees ecozone development as a catalyst for growth in the BARMM.
Currently, the region has one economic zone which is the Polloc Freeport and Economic Zone (PFEZ) in Maguindanao.
Moreover, manufacturing, agro-industry, and halal hub are among the economic activities viable in BARMM, said Guiapal.
He added that developing the agro-industry in BARMM could help in achieving food security in the country.
Meanwhile, investments in PEZA zones already amounted to P4.076 trillion, creating 1.8 million jobs across the country.
PEZA ecozones grew to 421 composed of 300 information technology (IT) parks and centers, 78 manufacturing ecozones, 23 agro-industrial parks, 17 tourism ecozones, and three medical tourism zones.
In 2021 alone, PEZA shared 16% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) while 80% of total exports were from PEZA zones in 2022.
