Bangsamoro Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) delegates during the benchmarking tour and exploratory meeting at PertroSolar Corporation, a locator under the Luisita Industrial Park Special Economic Zone (LIPSEZ) located in Tarlac City, on May 20, 2024. (Photo courtesy of BEZA)
MANILA—To boost economic development in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the Bangsamoro Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) engaged in a learning and development tour in various parts of Luzon and in Davao City from May 20 to 24, 2024.
The delegation, led by BEZA Executive Director Atty. Sukarno Abas, engaged with key economic agencies in Luzon and Mindanao to gather best practices and operational insights.
The initiative, aimed at enhancing BEZA’s capabilities, involved comprehensive visits to well-established economic zones under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and discussions with the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB).
Highlighting the tour’s significance, Abas remarked, “I am confident that this exchange will provide meaningful and beneficial insights for all of us and my fellow public employees at BARMM.”
Key visits included three Economic Zones supervised by PEZA: the Pampanga Economic Zone (PEZ) in Angeles, FILINVEST Land, Inc. under Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) in New Clark City, and the Luisita Industrial Park Special Economic Zone (LIPSEZ) in Tarlac City, where BEZA officials engaged in in-depth discussions with industry leaders and observed successful operational models.
The visit also covered registered business enterprises (RBEs) under LIPSEZ such as International Wiring Systems (Phils.) Corporation, Foundever, a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company, and PertroSolar Corporation, to explore the infrastructure, facilities, and operations contributing to their success, providing a practical understanding of effective economic zone management.
BEZA team also visited the FIRB Office in Manila to present the proposed Bangsamoro Economic Zone Act or the BEZA Bill.
Datu Abdelwin Sangkula, BEZA’s legal drafter, presented the key features of the proposed Bill to the FIRB members, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding and gather their suggestions.
PEZA Zone Administrator Atty. Abdullah Adel-Khan Alug said, “With BARMM’s increasing performance and growing economy among the regions, BARMM can take advantage of the ecozone program and attract much-needed FDI-driven jobs. Export local and national revenues and other economic opportunities for the region.”
The tour culminated with a visit to Damosa IT Park in Davao City, where BEZA officials gained insights into developing PEZA-accredited IT and agro-industrial estates.
Lora Porras of Anflo Management and Investment Corporation (ANFLOCOR) emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating that sharing their experiences will help BEZA create successful economic zones in BARMM.
This strategic initiative by BEZA underscores the agency’s commitment to transforming BARMM into a thriving economic hub, leveraging its rich natural resources and skilled workforce.
The development tour is expected to lay the groundwork for future economic growth and attract vital investments to the region. (Aisah Abas/BIO with reports from BEZA)
