The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the utilization of ancestral domains and lands as economic zones.

PEZA Director General Charito B. Plaza said the agreement is in compliance with the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997 and the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process. The MOA also supports Administrative Order No. 18, which directs investors to locate in the regions than in Metro Manila to enjoy more tax incentives and decongest the metropolis.

Under the agreement, PEZA and NCIP Chairman Allen Capuyan agreed to strengthen their cooperation in the identification, creation, development, implementation and operation of ancestral domains/lands as special economic zones for the greater good of Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs).

“PEZA, as the only authorized agency to register land and buildings to become economic zones, will remain steadfast in our plans to create different types of green, sustainable and smart ecozones and attract various industries facilitating environment-friendly industrialization,” said Plaza.

For his part, Capuyan noted that “The development of the ancestral domains as a special economic zone will not just give positive look to the socio-economic aspect of the communities but also increase the basic services as well as sufficient food, education, health, environmental protection, justice, human rights, security, and good governance.”

For decades, Plaza said “IPs have become victims of exploitation with the utilization of their ancestral domains and lands by some unscrupulous entities without just and fair compensation or due regard to their traditional territorial and resource rights.”

With this, the PEZA Chief suggested that PEZA should empower and capacitate all sectors of the country most especially the so-called marginalized like the IPs to participate in an inclusive economy to bring out the best of our countries’ potentials and vibrant economy.

“We in PEZA give utmost respect to IP rights on their ancestral lands. Hence, we respect compliance to IPRA law and social justice when ancestral lands will be tapped for ecozone development. Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) must provide just compensation to IP communities when their lands are affected by ecozone developments moreso they should be partners in economic endeavors in their ancestral lands,” she said.

Through the years, PEZA’s 417 ecozones have greatly provided benefits in the facilitation of growth and development especially in the host LGUs.

“We aim to replicate the multiplier effects that our zones created in the regions because we believe that ecozones will serve as economic drivers among ICCs/IPs,” said the PEZA Chief.

“Through our ecozone program, we will not only encourage the completion of the supply chain to make the country a production, manufacturing, and export-driven economy which will make us more attractive to investors as it will lower the cost of doing business and attain inclusive growth and development,” she added.

Further, Plaza noted that providing social justice to ICCs/IPs and giving them chance to utilize their ancestral lands by developing it into economic zones can host investors from various industries and create jobs and livelihood in the ancestral domain areas.