The Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ), the second largest public ecozone under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), has generated P51.5 billion in investments and $45.32 billion in exports since 1995.
PEZA Director General Charito B. Plaza cited the MEZ accomplishments at the Galing Pinas! Excellence Partnership Award that marked the 43rd MEZ anniversary. The award recognizes 20 locator companies, industry associations, local government units, and national government agencies for their outstanding contribution in the economic zone and industrialization program of PEZA and for making the Philippines an investment haven in Asia.
To date, Plaza said that MEZ hosts 204 companies that employ 52,792 workers. MEZ is the second largest public ecozone of PEZA after Cavite Economic Zone.
According to Plaza, “MEZ is coined as the pioneer economic zone in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. One of the long-time existing public economic zone in the country and in Asia, MEZ is considered to be the home of big-ticket projects in Cebu that have provided thousands of jobs to the ‘Oponganons’ and ‘Cebuanos’.”
In line with its efforts to contribute to the revival of the economy under the leadership of Plaza, PEZA has adapted its Transformation Road Map (TRM) which outlines its plans and programs for the next 25 years. One of the projects under this road map is the redesigning and transformation of PEZA’s public ecozones into green, healthy, sustainable, and smart ecozones with the integration of industrial, commercial, residential component.
Under the roadmap, MEZ will be the first recipient of the re-masterplanning of PEZA’s public ecozones.
Projects to be included in the redesigning of the ecozone are the construction of the MEZ Admin Building and Multi-Purpose Hall, hospital, PNP and BFP offices, creation of underground power and telecommunications systems, installation of RFIDs, and e-shuttle vehicles among others.
“We will work in the overall beautification of our zones where investors and workers can live, learn, and play,” noted Plaza.
Plaza explained that the redesigning of PEZA’s public ecozones will make them “the country’s show window to the world, showcasing not only full industrialization but also environment-friendly where investors shall work and live in a clean, beautiful, safe, and secured place.”
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Plaza said that PEZA will continue to do its best to attract potential investors, assist and support locator companies, generate jobs and contribute to the overall revival of the economy for the benefit of the people and the country.