MANILA, Philippines – Binawi na ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang moratorium hinggil sa paglikha ng bagong economic zones sa Metro Manila, mahigit 7 taon matapos itong ipatupad.
Ang bagong kaganapan na ito ay isiniwalat ni Trade Secretary Cristina Roque sa isang kalatas, sabay sabing “the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) welcomes the Office of the President’s decision to officially lift the Administrative Order No. 18 (AO 18) moratorium on IT ecozone expansion in Metro Manila.”
Ang AO 18, ipinalabas ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte noong June 2019, naglalayon na madaliin ang rural progress sa pamamagitan ng development ng mas maraming special economic zones sa mga lalawigan.
Upang mag-complement ito, ipinag-utos ni Digong Duterte ang isang moratorium hinggil sa pagpoproseso ng aplikasyon para sa economic zones sa Metro Manila.
Ang Special economic zones (SEZs) ay ang piling lugar na may highly developed o may potensiyal na ma-develop sa agro-industrial, Industrial tourist/recreational, commercial, banking, investment at financial centers.
Ang enterprises na matatagpuan sa SEZs ay tinatamasa ang special tax perks gaya ng income tax holiday at binawasang corporate income tax rates.
“This major policy reform is a resounding victory for the IT-BPM sector and a decisive step forward in strengthening the Philippines’ position as a premier global destination for digital services,” ayon kay Roque.
“By reopening the NCR to new IT ecozones and targeted expansion, we are addressing long-standing investor demand, unlocking significant real estate opportunities, and revitalizing the ecosystem that drives our country’s digital economy,” dagdag na wika nito.
Inilarawan ni Roque ang ginawang pagbawi ni Pangulong Marcos sa AO 18 bilang isang “testament to the strong collaboration between the DTI, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and our industry stakeholders who strongly advocated for this reform.”
“As we open new avenues for growth in Metro Manila alongside our continuous push to develop regional IT hubs, we are positioning the IT-BPM sector to generate thousands of high-quality jobs, attract foreign direct investments, and ensure economic growth nationwide,” ang sinabi pa rin ng Kalihim.
“We invite our global partners and prospective investors to take full advantage of this renewed momentum and build their future here in the Philippines,” aniya pa rin. (KRIS JOSE)
