PEZA and MinDA to Boost Ecozone Growth in Mindanao

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) have partnered to accelerate the development of economic zones in Mindanao to help drive investments, jobs, and regional progress.

Under the MOU, PEZA will support the establishment and expansion of ecozones in priority areas to be identified by MinDA under the Mindanao Development Corridors (MDC) Program. (Photo: Philippine Economic Zone Authority Facebook)

PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga and MinDA Chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing stronger interagency coordination for the initiative.

Under the MOU, PEZA will support the establishment and expansion of ecozones in priority areas to be identified by MinDA under the Mindanao Development Corridors (MDC) Program.

Locating ecozone expansion within regional development strategies will allow the partnership to ensure that investments translate into sustained economic opportunities for Mindanao communities.

Under the partnership, both agencies will provide technical support, align annual planning and investment promotion initiatives, and jointly undertake business matching and promotional activities to attract both domestic and foreign investors.

PEZA and MinDA noted that the collaboration also reinforces public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a key strategy for driving inclusive growth, with economic zones serving as critical platforms for industrialization, job creation, and competitiveness.

“Expanding and diversifying ecozone development in Mindanao is central to PEZA’s mandate. With 42 of the country’s 436 operating economic zones already located in the region, we see significant potential to further strengthen Mindanao’s investment footprint,” DG Panga said.

Key ecozone areas in Mindanao include the Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, and Soccsksargen, with focus sectors such as manufacturing, IT-BPM, and agribusiness.

As of mid-2025, the Davao Region hosts 19 ecozones, with more than 55 locator companies employing about 50,000 workers.

Logistics and tourism are two other key sectors expected to benefit from expanded ecozone development in Mindanao.

“Through closer collaboration with MinDA and our local government units, and under the oversight of PEZA Zone Administrator Abdullah Adel-Khan P. Alug, who has been tasked to ensure the partnership’s success, we will provide guidance on investment facilitation, ecozone registration, and incentive mechanisms to accelerate project implementation and ensure that opportunities translate into real economic gains,” Panga added.

For his part, Secretary Magno reaffirmed MinDA’s commitment to working closely with local government units (LGUs), partner agencies, and private investors to promote existing economic zones while identifying and developing new ecozones aligned with the Mindanao Development Corridors (MDC) framework.

He added that this strategy will convert strategic opportunities into tangible economic gains and advance the shared mission of “Building a Better Mindanao.”

The PEZA–MinDA joint initiative aligns with the national government’s push to expand ecozone development nationwide, strengthen interagency coordination, and ensure that growth opportunities extend beyond traditional urban centers.

The signing of the MOU marks a strategic step toward advancing sustainable countryside development and enhancing Mindanao’s position as a competitive and investment-ready region, the two agencies underscored.