Duterte wants swift development of ecozones in rural areas

President Rodrigo Duterte. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the faster development of ecozones in rural areas and halted the applications in Metro Manila ecozones.

Through Administrative Order 18, Duterte ordered to “hasten human capital and infrastructure, as well as to provide needed interventions to strengthen ecozones in the countryside, and ensure the development of backward and forward linkages of industries in and around such ecozones.”

The said administrative order was issued on June 17, but was only released to the media on Saturday.

The agencies involved are Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

The administrative order also read that Peza to “no longer accept, process or evaluate the establishment of ecozones in Metro Manila immediately.”

“The herein moratorium shall not prevent locator companies from commencing their operations on existing ecozones in Metro Manila,” the administrative order read.

Under the administrative order, businesses in areas declared as ecozones could enjoy tax-free importations, tax holidays, exemption from payment of any government fees, among others.

“There is a need to promote rural development, ensure inclusive growth in the countryside, and create robust economic activity and wealth generation in areas outside Metro Manila,” the administrative order read. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)