Government to create ecozone authority for Mindanao

A Regional Economic Zone Authority (REZA) will be created in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to identify and approve special economic zones in the area.

This was announced by Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar V. Purisima following a meeting with DTI’s ARMM Regional Secretary Ishak V. Mastura and Philippine Economic Zones Authority (PEZA) director-general Lilia B. de Lima.

According to Purisima, the ARMM Legislative Assembly has already approved the creation of the REZA.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Purisima said, supports the creation of the REZA which will be the independent equivalent of the PEZA.

Congress, however, Purisima said, will still have to give its final approval for the creation of the REZA.

Purisima pointed out that there are some exporting companies in the ARMM region including a banana plantation in Datu Paglas which ships bananas to the Middle East and a textile manufacturer.

The ARMM region, Purisima added, is also a source of 70 percent of the carrageenan raw material exported by the Philippines.

Another lucrative export market, Purisima said, is the $250-billion Halai food products market.

The REZA, Purisima said, can give their own incentives although it would work closely with the PEZA and DTI especially in terms of technical assistance.

"The REZA is basically like our PEZA. They will identify areas that will become ecozones and they will have their own promotions," Purisima said.