The Mindanao Development Authority and Philippine Economic Zone Authority agreed to take steps to speed ip the creation of economic zones in Mindanao, especially agro-ecozones.
Peza director general Charito Plaza and MinDA OIC-Chairman Nathaniel Dalumpines met to discuss Mindanao’s potential economic zone areas, following the enforcement of Administrative Order 18, which seeks to “accelerate rural progress through robust development of Special Economic Zones in the countryside”.
“Local government units (LGUs) which for a long time been host of ecozones like Cavite, Mactan, Baguio City, CALABARZON region, Bataan, Clark, and Subic are very progressive, productive, and rank highest in contributing to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in social progress, and they have the lowest poverty and crime incidences,” said Plaza.
“They enjoy peace and prosperity. Thus, we want such progress replicated in the countryside, in Mindanao, and other poorer and security-challenged provinces nationwide. We aim to spread economic development and opportunities to more localities,” she added.