BY RAADEE S. SAUSA, Manila Times, JANUARY 10, 2017
THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is positive investments will triple or even quadruple this year as new economic zones open throughout the country after it recorded a 20 percent drop in approved investments in 2016 due to election-related uncertainties.
PEZA said it approved over P218-billion worth of investments in 2016, down from the P295 billion investments it approved in 2015.
“During the election period, there was a halt because some investors were monitoring who will be the next leader…During that period, we were down by 20 percent compared to 2015,” PEZA Director General Charito Plaza told a press conference on Monday.
She emphasized that such investment lulls were typical during election periods.
“This 2017, with the new economic zones all over the country, we hope to triple or quadruple investments and make aggressive invitations to investors,” she said.
Other countries are looking at the Philippines as an investment haven because of the government’s moves to cut bureaucratic red tape and its emphasis on eradicating corruption, the PEZA chief said.
“Many countries are looking at the Philippines as a new investment haven because we are now the top-growing economy in Asia because of our strategic location, and they are happy with President Rodrigo Duterte’s creating the Philippines as a safe, peaceful, [and]friendlier business environment,” Plaza said.
In 2016, direct employment created by PEZA-accredited economic zones reached 1.3 million while total exports from these zones rose 6.2 percent to $38.918 billion from $36.633 billion in 2015.
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
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
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against
Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
