MindanaoToday.com | MinDA gathers key players in CDO to boost Mindanao’s econ landscape
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) gathers investment promotion agencies, ecozone operators, and local economic development and investment promotion officers (LEDIPO) for a two-day convergence forum in Cagayan de Oro City, November 21–22, 2023, with the theme “Towards Creating an Attractive Business Environment for Mindanao.”
Joan Barrera, director of the Planning and Project Development Office, said MinDA’s mandate is to coordinate, harmonize, and integrate the various efforts from a Mindanao-wide perspective.
“We have developed in 2010 the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework Plan that focuses on peace, productivity, and poverty reduction,” she said.
Barerra added that there are 37 economic zones in Mindanao that are registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and three special economic zones to include the Zamboanga Economic Zone, as well as Polomolok, South Cotabato, and the Polloc Free Port and Economic Zone in Parang, Maguindanao, and BARMM.
This also includes the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority (PHIVIDEC-IA), which is a fully owned and controlled corporation of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, established on August 13, 1974, by Presidential Decree 538 as amended by Presidential Decree 1491 and Executive Order No. 1031.
It is mandated to identify and develop sites in the country as prospective industrial areas. It manages, administers, and supervises the 3,000-hectare Phividec Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental in the towns of Tagoloan and Villanueva.
“In the future, we will be manufacturing agriculture, fisheries, forestry-related products. Instead of importing them, we will be producing them here. We would like to also lessen our exportation of raw materials. With this kind of strategy, we will be providing jobs for Mindanaoans and also providing income to our local government units,” Barrera said.
In northern Mindanao, there are 10 ecozones, operated by eight local government units.
The Ecozones Convergence Forum gave the participants a glimpse of other ecozone developments in the country, more particularly the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB).
Augusto Kimpo, Authority of the Freeport Area (AFAB) of Bataan chief of staff of the administrator, shares how to find an ecozone’s niche and use that to attract investments. AFAB envisions being a development catalyst in the Philippines by creating meaningful employment and inclusive economic growth in Central Luzon through pioneering efforts in corporate governance and multi-sectoral collaboration.
Kimpo said, “Sometimes, a simple walk around your ecozone is what will really do wonders. Find out what your freeport ticks. We have to be able to answer that primordial question: What is it that will make your ecozone or freeport sell?”
PEZA Zone Manager Raymond Java, for his part, stressed the importance of knowing your ecozone’s strengths and how that could be turned into an advantage in operations.
“We have to know thyself, know your territory. When we know what our assets are, we bank on these assets that we already have. We will also know what is lacking in infrastructure that we need to prepare,” Java said.
Java also pointed out that ecozones must also recognize their people, aside from the vast tracts of land, as assets, particularly the people’s skillsets, making them employable should investors be interested.
He also discussed the challenges of local governments and stressed the need for local legislation in the creation of ecozones.
“This two-day activity demonstrates our persistent desire to bring to huge success what we envision of a highly attractive Mindanao to the global investing community,” said Rodrigo B. Giducos, MinDA Director for Investment Promotion and Public Affairs Office.
Ecozones, or “Special Economic Zones,” refer to selected areas that are highly developed or that have the potential to be developed into agri-industrial, industrial, tourist, recreational, commercial, banking, investment, and financial centers. These areas may contain industrial estates, export processing zones, free trade zones, and tourist or recreational centers. (SAYU/PIA-10)
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