THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) are teaming up to promote investment opportunities in the country’s southern region.
In an agreement signed last week by PEZA Director General Tereso Panga and MinDA Chairman Leo Tereso Magno, the two agencies will help accelerate the development of economic zones in priority areas in the Mindanao Development Corridors (MDC) Program.
The agreement’s framework aims to transform Mindanao into a globally competitive, integrated region through improved infrastructure, logistics, and economic connectivity.
PEZA and MinDA will provide technical support, align annual planning and investment promotion initiatives, and jointly undertake business matching to attract domestic and foreign businesses.
The collaboration will likewise reinforce public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a key strategy in driving inclusive growth, with economic zones serving as critical platforms for industrialization, job creation, and competitiveness.
“Expanding and diversifying ecozone development in Mindanao is central to PEZA’s mandate. With 42 of the country’s 436 operating economic zones already located in the region, we see significant potential to further strengthen Mindanao’s investment footprint,” Panga said.
Magno reaffirmed MinDA’s commitment to work closely with local government units, partner agencies, and private investors in promoting existing economic zones, as well as identifying and developing new ones aligned with the MDC framework, to convert strategic opportunities into tangible economic gains and advance the shared mission of “Building a Better Mindanao.”
The partnership also marks a strategic step toward advancing sustainable countryside development and enhancing Mindanao’s position as a competitive and investment-ready region, reflecting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s emphasis on PPPs, capacity building, and interagency coordination.