DTI bucks creation of new ecozones

Published by rudy Date posted on August 19, 2010

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Wednesday said the government would suspend the creation of new freeport zones. On the sidelines of the Philippine Mid-Year Economic Briefing, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo told reporters that economic zones under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) are well-managed and are getting favorable feedback from investors.

So putting up new freeports is “not a good idea,” he said, adding that the existing ones are enough to lure in investments.

“Our economic zones are very investor-friendly. [PEZA is] well-run, it has a proven track record,” Domingo said.

“Semiconductor manufacturers and business process outsourcing (BPO) companies locate at PEZA zones,” he added.

Semiconductors and electronics compose the bulk of the country’s exports, while the BPO sector is the country’s biggest employer outside of government.

Latest PEZA data show that its investment approvals in the first seven months of this year reached P68.609 billion, up 57.5 percent year-on-year.

Ecozone exports in the first half rose 39.5 percent to P20.082 billion, while employment went up by about a fifth to 697,187.

Domingo said non-PEZA zones usually have inadequate infrastructure.

Also, investors in non-PEZA zones have to deal with the local governments they are in, which he said is “often times quite difficult.”

“It’s quite cumbersome to do business in non-PEZA zones,” the Trade chief said.

He said the Trade department is putting in place programs that would streamline business registration processes to improve the business environment in areas outside special economic zones.

The DTI and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently signed agreements meant to simplify and harmonize the business permits and licensing system of local governments nationwide. –BEN ARNOLD O. DE VERA, Manila Times

July 2025

Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”

Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.

Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar.  Reject Military!

#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos

Time to support & empower survivors. Time to spark a global conversation. Time for #GenerationEquality to #orangetheworld!

July


3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 Ju
ly – International Plastic Bag Free Day
 
5 July –
World Youth Skills Day 
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day 
17 July – World Day for
International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons 


Monthly Observances:

Schools Safety Month

Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month

Weekly Observances:

Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week

 

Daily Observances:

First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines

Categories

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.