The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) is seeking to establish more economic zones, especially for Halal hubs in the region, which is composed of six provinces and three cities. Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Deputy Director General Aleem Siddiqui Guiapal, who represented PEZA during the 1st Multi-Stakeholders Forum for the Development of Polloc Freeport and Economic Zone (PFEZ) on December 6, said the national agency is behind BEZA in promoting more ecozone developments in the region. Guiapal, PEZA’s point person for BEZA, raised the possibility of collaboration between PEZA and BARMM in investment promotions, especially in the establishment of Halal hubs in the region.
Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Al-Hajj Murad” said a day before the forum that PEZA will help in the Bangsamoro government on how to benefit from special economic zones (ecozones), which are known to be effective in catalyzing economic activities, generating jobs, and attracting foreign investments.
At the 1st Multi-Stakeholders Forum for the Development of the PFEZ, Guiapal talked about the “Advantages in Investing in an Ecozone”. He has been the focus person in engaging with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). For his part, BEZA OIC-Executive Director Atty. Sukarno A. Abas noted developments about the PFEZ as well as the challenges in establishing more special economic zones in the Bangsamoro region.
At present, BARMM has only one ecozone, the Polloc Freeport and Economic Zone (PFEZ) located at Barangay Polloc, Parang, Maguindanao del Norte. The PFEZ has its own Polloc Port. BEZA is exactly seeking to establish more ecozones in the region, which is composed of six provinces, three cities, and a Special Geographic Area (SGA) in North Cotabato that joined the BARMM.
Guiapal, among others, cited the economic benefits that PEZA accomplished from January to September this year with investment approvals reaching P39.631 billion from 148 projects that are expected to employ around 1.8 million jobs and exports worth P43.166 billion.
He pointed out that PEZA ecozone exports for the period January to June 2022 increased at 7.7 percent compared to the same period in 2021. Philippine exports achieved 10 percent higher.
Guiapal noted the message that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. (PBBM) has been espousing concerning enhancing countryside development. “We support the call of PBBM on countryside development through ecozone development. We’ve seen this strategy in China, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, and Michigan in the United States,” said Guiapal.
He cited the high potential in BARMM for agro-industry, food processing manufacturing, and establishment of the Halal hubs. Abas commended Guiapal as a symbol of the Bangsamoro people who is making good in the national stage and one who has not forgotten his roots.
