links: https://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/8-afp-news/1092-afp-peza-ink-agreement-on-defense-industrial-ecozones
AFP, PEZA ink agreement on defense industrial ecozones
CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City—The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority signed an agreement on Thursday, July 29, that will guide future use of military reservations as “defense industrial ecozones.”
The Memorandum, signed by the AFP Chief of Staff General Cirilito Sobejana and PEZA Director General BGen Charito Plaza (Res), is aimed at supporting the AFP modernization program.
“These identified ecozones are potential ASEAN regional production and distribution hubs for manufactured products, which will definitely optimize our resource generation opportunities that can significantly support the successful implementation of our Modernization Programs,” General Sobejana said.
“In this signing, we make our collaboration institutional and is a concrete step toward our common goal of developing idle government lands, like our military reservations, to attract and create investments, bring in technology, and create jobs and livelihood for our people,” said Director General Plaza.
The parties will endeavor to enhance the capacity of defense manufacturing sectors through regional economic zones, which shall serve as ready locations for defense manufacturing enterprises.
Accordingly, the AFP with the assistance of PEZA will explore the conversion, identify assets, and set the metes and bounds of some of its military lands for use as economic zones.
PEZA will also provide assistance complying with regulations, administering incentives, and perform functions per Republic Act 7916 or the Special Economic Zones Act.
Further, it will also assist in linking up the AFP with industries for possible joint ventures and other investment arrangements.
“We are extremely confident on the capability of PEZA [to help] the AFP and transform parts of our military real estates into bustling economic zones that will become an alternative source of funds for the procurement of modern assets and equipment for the Armed Forces,” General Sobejana added.
The MOA will take effect upon approval of Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana.
“We are confident that this latest partnership will not only contribute in our campaign to win the peace but also in attaining our vision to become a “world-class Armed Forces, that is source of national pride,” General Sobejana concluded.///
Photos by TSg Obinque PAF, Sgt Manzano PA/PAOAFP
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