Executive Secretary Ralph Recto – Photo from Ralph Recto/Facebook
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Wednesday said the creation and expansion of special economic zones in Batangas and Iloilo are expected to generate thousands of jobs and attract fresh investments to the provinces.
He said the move aligns with the Marcos administration’s push to spread economic activity beyond Metro Manila and bring employment opportunities closer to communities in the regions.
In Batangas, additional land in Tanauan City has been integrated into the First Industrial Township–Special Economic Zone, an industrial hub that already hosts several export-oriented firms.
The expanded Batangas ecozone is projected to draw more manufacturing locators, generating new capital inflows and creating close to 2,000 additional jobs.
Recto noted that the expansion would help strengthen local economies and improve livelihoods in Batangas and surrounding areas.
In Iloilo, a new information technology park has been established in the Mandurriao District, reinforcing the city’s growing role in the IT and business process services sector.
Officials said the Iloilo IT park is expected to generate hundreds of millions of pesos in investments and provide employment to more than 2,000 workers.
The ecozone proclamations were signed earlier this month under the authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and are covered by existing laws governing special economic zones and incentives.