BusinessWorld
May 11, 2021 | 12:33 am
By
Reporter
DEFENSE EQUIPMENT manufacturers have been showing interest in setting up operations in the Philippines as soon as industrial zones are put up, a top official of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said.
“There are manifestations of companies those who are manufacturing defense equipment, uniforms, weapons, military ships and aircraft
marami nang nag-invoke
ng kanilang (many have expressed their) interest to bring their manufacturing companies here once we have the defense industrial complexes,” PEZA Director-General Charito B. Plaza said in an online interview on Thursday.
PEZA plans to transform military reservation areas in Fort Bonifacio, Camp Evangelista, and Maguindanao into defense industrial complexes to manufacture military weapons and equipment. Ms. Plaza is aiming to have the areas declared as industrial zones before the end of the Duterte administration in mid-2022.
to spur more growth and development.
SWEET MANGOES The island province of Guimaras is known to produce one of the world’s sweetest varieties of mangoes. (Tara Yap/MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Nelson Ynion, a retired ship captain and president of the American Association of Western Visayas (AAWV),
proposed the construction of processing plants to achieve these.
“That’s why we are calling for processing plants to be built,” said Ynion who spearheaded a private sector initiative to establish an economic zone in Guimaras.
He reiterated that Guimaras will lag behind if it cannot sell its products to a wider market.
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez
This was emphasized by Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez at the virtual launch of the AI Roadmap, which seeks to ensure the Philippines can unlock opportunities in AI for local businesses.
“The N-CAIR will serve as the country’s shared hub for AI research that will be instrumental in making the Philippines an AI powerhouse,” said Lopez as he assured that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are part of this initiative.
Serving as home to full-time research scientists and research engineers, Lopez said the N-CAIR will be responsible for advancing scientific discoveries in AI and play a pivotal role in nurturing and developing AI talent and data science leaders. Furthermore, the consultancy services offered by the Center will benefit government agencies, industries, and other research centers in the country.
(Mark Balmores/ File Photo/ MANILA BULLETIN)
“PEZA-registered companies, ecozone and industry workers are considered frontline workers as they have continued working to ensure the unhampered service to contribute to the global supply chain,” PEZA Director General Charito Plaza said in her letter addressed to Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Disease head, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
She emphasized the importance of locators and ecozone workers in preparing the country for its post-COVID economic rebound.
PEZA locators, which include outsourcing and export-oriented firms, have been allowed to operate at a limited capacity amid the current lockdown to cushion the continuing adverse impact of COVID-19 on the economy.
Published May 5, 2021, 6:00 AM
Despite the continuing movement restrictions, economic zones still operate at higher capacity and continued to employ over a million workers across the country.
Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Charito B. Plaza said that during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) period from April 12-16, economic zones were operating at 90 percent capacity or 2,701 companies continued to open nationwide. This enabled 1,193,813 employees to work under various work schemes.
Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Charito B. Plaza. (Photo credit from Corporate Communications Division
Philippine Economic Zone Authority)
Broken down, Plaza said that 84 percent of the IT-BPO industry continued to operate while the manufacturing sector at 94 percent.