MMSU, PEZA kickstart Pagudpud ecozone

The Mariano Marcos State University-Special Economic Zone Institute (MMSU-SEZI) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) have committed to assist the local government unit (LGU) of Pagudpud to become a tourism economic zone. 

 

The MMSU-SEZI, together with Mr. Neilbert Jacky Gajudo, PEZA-SEZI chairperson, assured its help to the local government officials in realizing Pagudpud town's vision to become the “Green Municipality of the North” which is characterized by improved tourism revenues and renewable energy development. 

 

In a planning-workshop on Green Industrial Growth held at the Villa Andrea Beach Resort in Pagudpud last April 22-23, the team tackled “Developing Special Economic Zones as Platform toward Economic Recovery and Resiliency” with the LGU officials.

 

Mr. Allan Datahan, deputy zone administrator of PEZA-Baguio City Ecozone, discussed special economic zones as a pillar of social progress, while, Arch. Emmanuel Cortero, department manager of PEZA’s ecozone development, talked about the fundamentals of SEZ development planning. 

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Carmelo J. Esteban, MMSU-SEZI’s vice chairperson for planning, said the plan of establishing tourism ecozone in Pagudpud aims to improve the lives of its communities and is in line with the post-pandemic resiliency and recovery plan of the town.

 

Prof. Reynold Villacillo, MMSU-SEZI’s secretariat member, said the activity was participated in by the representatives from LGU Pagudpud, Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL). 

 

Last January, the MMSU-SEZI held a virtual forum with LGUs and provincial governments in Region I to discuss the possible establishment of special ecozones within the region. Here, the attendees were mentored in developing industries toward a globally competitive and export-oriented regional economy. 

 

The MMSU-SEZI is mandated to assist LGUs in establishing locally-based initiatives for export-oriented investments in Region I. – Kimberly S. Miguel and Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr.

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