So far, since assuming office in 2022, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has proclaimed 27 economic zones worth P9.175 million, 16 of which were accomplished in 2024 with investments totaling P5.637 billion, according to Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga.
These ecozones range from information technology parks, such as Sevina Park Commercial in Laguna and ArcoVia City in Pasig City, to manufacturing hubs like MetroCas Industrial Estates in Cavite and Victoria Industrial Park in Tarlac. Under President Marcos Jr.’s administration, PEZA has likewise achieved a record-breaking ₱214.17 billion in investment pledges for 2024.
Panga envisions a future where ecozones continue to drive regional growth: “We’re looking at a longer horizon where we will continue to be relevant and vibrant, especially when it comes to spreading ecozone development, so we can accelerate countryside development. Because of that, we will continue to be a huge contributor to the economic development of the country.”
Among the most significant proclamations is the expansion of Aboitiz InfraCapital’s West Cebu Industrial Park in Balamban, Cebu, which is seen to create 14,000 additional jobs after its expected completion. Marice Alyssa Ofrin, assistant vice president for Brand & Marketing Communications at Aboitiz InfraCapital, said the expansion work is 80 percent complete and is on track for completion by the second quarter of next year.
A transformative ecozone in Visayas Signed in October 2024 as Proclamation No. 710 by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin under the President’s authority, the West Cebu Industrial Park expansion integrates 17.6 hectares from Barangays Arpili and Buanoy into the existing 540-hectare Aboitiz InfraCapital Economic Estate. This move highlights the power of ecozones to invigorate local economies, with PEZA noting that nine of the ten wealthiest local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines host ecozones. Cebu, which ranked fifth among the richest LGUs, has benefited immensely from the West Cebu Estate, which since 1993 has transformed Balamban into the “Shipbuilding Capital of the Philippines.”
Empowering communities and advancing infrastructure West Cebu Estate has had a profound impact on the local community since being developed in 1993 as a joint venture of Aboitiz Group and Tsuneishi Holdings of Japan, fostering both infrastructure and economic development in Balamban. President Marcos Jr.’s vision for rural development has been realized in this transformative project.
Michael Abejar, 53, general manager of the construction department of Tsuneishi Heavy Industries Cebu Incorporated, who has been with the company for 30 years, reminisced about the town’s past: “’Yung Balamban before is [a] sleepy town and then pagdating ng [Aboitiz at] Tsuneishi, nag-boom ‘yung economy niya.”
Another three-decade employee, Ramil Roa, highlighted how the ecozone improved infrastructure: “[I]sa sa pinakamaganda is nagkaroon ng merkado, ospital at saka paaralan. At meron ding patubig at marami pang iba.” He also noted the hospital’s impact: “When Tsuneishi donated the district hospital, doon na dinala ‘yung mga pasyente. Hindi na kailangan pupunta pa doon sa Cebu City, so hindi lang Balamban ‘yung nakabenepisyo.”
PEZA’s Panga emphasized that ecozones catalyze infrastructure development, from roads and utilities to air and seaports. “Mayroong programa ang gobyerno na tinatawag nilang ‘multi-industry convergence…’ [L]ahat ng mga infrastructure support na kailangan ng isang economic zone, ito po ay binibigay na ng gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng pagtayo ng mga daan… utilities including power and water infrastructure, sewage treatment plants, and establishment and improvement of air and seaports,” he explains. President Marcos Jr.’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure has made projects like these possible.
Zone Administrator Emmanuel Cortero of the Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ), who oversees the ecozones in Visayas and Mindanao, noted how these projects align with the administration’s “Build Better More” program, which prioritizes countryside development. “If there are feasible areas for declaration as an economic zone but need to have the support infrastructure facilities… [other agencies like] the DPWH, the DOTR, are also given directives to support that particular initiative, not only by the local government but even by the private sector. So this Build Better More would actually complement the initiative of the PEZA in putting up economic zone activity in the countryside or in the far-flung areas,” he explained, citing the vision of President Marcos Jr. as a key factor in this development.
Generating jobs and transforming lives West Cebu Estate’s contribution to job creation is remarkable, with 11 locators employing 14,000 workers and attracting ₱32 billion in investments since 1995. Abejar observed how the ecozone transformed livelihoods: “Before nag-start ang Tsuneishi… Ang pangkabuhayan dito, mangingisda lang at saka magsasaka. [Dahil sa ecozone], marami ding nakapagtrabaho, hindi lang dito sa Balamban, [but] also the neighboring cities and municipalities.”
Ramil’s journey from Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental, reflects how the ecozone fosters personal and professional growth: “[D]oon ako nag-eskwela sa Silliman University ng Dumaguete City… [P]agka-graduate ko, dito ako nagbu-board sa Cebu. And then, while waiting for the board exam result, nag-apply ako ng trabaho.” He continued on how this opportunity had affected his life: “Dahil doon, nagiging maganda ‘yung buhay namin dito. Nagkabahay kami, may sariling sasakyan, at nakapagpa-aral kami ng mga anak sa magagandang unibersidad.”
Similarly, Yuge Caminos, a welder-cutter turned senior leader, highlighted how the ecozone empowers workers, carving her a different path in life: “Wala pa ang kumpanya, ako po ay isang konduktor ng aming jeep… Gi-trabaho naku ug tarong ang ako-ang posisyon, unya akong gi-padayon nga maningkamot – kay para sa akong pamilya, para dili sila mapareha nako nga high school graduate lang.”
Keeping families together and retaining talent Data reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in September 2024 shows that from April to September 2023, the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) reached 2.16 million, which is 9.8 percent higher than the 1.96 million recorded in the same period in 2022, with overseas contract workers (OCWs) making up 98.1 percent of the total. PEZA’s goal is to provide local employment opportunities to keep families together. President Marcos Jr. has emphasized the importance of providing jobs that allow families to stay united and thrive.
Panga explained: “Ang pinakamaganda, mabigyan sila ng trabaho, malapit sila sa pamilya nila, at pati ‘yong mga anak nila mapag-aral nila.” Abejar shared why in his 30 years with Tsuneishi, he never considered leaving: “May chances before na mag-transfer, but eventually I feel comfortable and happy naman sa trabaho. I think that’s the most important thing.” Similarly, Roa has had overseas opportunities but chose to stick with the Japanese locator: “I think because I love the industry… Parang na-fit ako sa shipbuilding, kasi na-apply ko ‘yung mga skill ko.”
Building a Legacy for Future Generations Aboitiz InfraCapital continues to expand West Cebu Estate to accommodate industries beyond maritime businesses, such as automotive, manufacturing, and logistics. The ongoing 39-hectare industrial expansion will include a new commercial complex featuring a neighborhood mall, transport terminal, communal park, and commercial lots. President Marcos Jr.’s vision for comprehensive development is being realized in the ongoing expansion of this ecozone.
Aboitiz says that these “amenities are designed to enhance the quality of life for the estate’s workforce and residents, fostering a supportive, well-rounded environment that will make the estate an even more attractive destination for businesses and employees alike.” For 29-year employee Vernon Seblos, the ecozone has been life-changing. Starting as a truck driver, he has seen his family’s fortunes improve: “[N]akita ko may magandang opportunity talaga… Naiba na dito sa lugar namin, gumanda na… Dahil sa trabaho ko dito, napaaral ko nang mabuti ‘yung tatlong anak ko at nakapagtapos sila.”
One of his children, Flora May Agad, 31, now works as a system administrator in the same ecozone for 10 years already. “Ipinanganak at lumaki ako dito sa Balamban hanggang sa nag-aral, grumaduate at nakapasok dito sa Tsuneishi. Simula nu’ng nagtrabaho ako, kaya ko nang bumili ng mga bagay-bagay at saka di na ako takot maiwan sa groceries. Kaya ko na i-treat yung family ko.” Cuison, on the other hand, has a relative who benefited from Tsuneishi’s scholarship program for its employees: “Siya ay nakapasa tapos pagkatapos niyang mag-aral, nakatrabaho na siya dito sa kumpanyang ito.”
A vision for regional and national progress With Proclamation 710, West Cebu Industrial Park is set to expand its operations and opportunities for Balamban and again bolster the economy and employment in the town, driving development in the province of Cebu as well, and in turn the country. Zone administrator Cortero is also optimistic: “Even our locator companies are having a lot of expansion projects here in the country, and with the bullish investment promotion of the PEZA, we see a lot of new entrants in ecozone development in foreign direct investments.” President Marcos Jr. continues to prioritize these developments as key to national progress.
For Roa, the ecozone’s sustainability is evident: “Ang Tsuneishi… can sustain for sure 30 years more or 50 years, kasi maganda ‘yung lugar, maganda ‘yung source ng mga workers.” Flora May, for her part, expressed hope for future generations of the ecozone: “‘Pag iningatan lang talaga at saka tinulungan din ng mga tao, lalago pa talaga ‘to. Marami ding mga tao mabibigyan pa ng opportunities.”
