PEZA, DENR to sign MOU in identifying potential ecozones
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to identify and agree on various government lands that could be developed as an economic zone.
Under the memorandum, both government agencies agree to cooperate in identifying viable public lands under the department’s jurisdiction that can be proposed for Presidential Proclamation as an ecozone.
The CARAGA region is set to be the pilot area of the MOU.
According to PEZA Director General Charito Plaza, the MOU will serve as an initial and broad framework of understanding towards identifying public lands nationwide that can be harnessed in a sustainable and environmentally-compliant manner.
The deal will also require DENR to provide an inventory of public lands and islands under its jurisdiction to PEZA to explore feasible development of sustainable mineral and agro-forestry processing economic zones, oil depots, refinery ecozones, eco-tourism, agro-industrial special economic zones.
Additionally, the department is also set to provide technical assistance to PEZA in formulating proposals, which shall include the adoption of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) approach for the identified Special Economic Zones.
Further, PEZA and DENR may constitute a Technical Working Group (TWG) that will study, formulate, and recommend policies adopted and observed by both agencies in implementing the MOU.
