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THE
Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) has accredited
the first three agro-industrial economic zones in the
country—one each in Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon and
Cagayan Valley.
Peza
director general Lilia B. de Lima said the three new
economic enclaves passed the requirements set by the
recently released guidelines of the agency for the
accreditation of agro-industrial zones.
Those
given the go-signal to operate as Peza-accredited
agro-industrial zones are the Philippine Packing
Agricultural Export Processing Zone in Bugo, Cagayan de
Oro City; Bukidnon Agro-Industrial Export Zone in Manolo
Fortich, Bukidnon; and the Pampanga Industrial Park
Corp. (PIPC) Cagayan North in Lalo, Cagayan Valley.
The
locators and would-be investors in these areas can now
qualify for various government incentives like income-
tax holidays and duty-free importation of raw materials
and equipment.
The
Philippine Packing Management Services Corp. got the
accreditation for its 27-hectare property in Bugo,
Cagayan de Oro City, and its 46-hectare property in
Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon as Agro-Industrial Economic
Zones.
Pampanga
Industrial Park Corp. got the third approval from Peza
for its 50-hectare property in Lalo,
Cagayan Valley.
De Lima
said this initial batch of agro-industrial economic
zones will serve as locations for the operations of
agro-industrial based enterprises to further accelerate
the growth and development of the countryside.
They
will also promote linkages through the production of
high value-added and better quality agricultural
products geared primarily for the export market.
A
minimum of five hectares, for non-bio-fuel production,
will qualify interested agro-industrial developers to
get Peza approval for eventual presidential proclamation
of the agro-industrial estate.
Registrable agro-industrial activities that will qualify
for Peza incentives include the following:
§
Import-substituting commercial production and processing
of agricultural crops for bio-fuel (such as but not
limited to coconut, jathropha, sugar cane, cassava, corn
and sweet sorghum) which will require huge tracts of
land of at least 3,000 hectares;
§
Processing/manufacturing for export of agricultural and
marine products (livestock and poultry, fruits and
vegetables, aquaculture products);
§
Integrated livestock, poultry and related projects
involving primary production up to processing and export
of final product;
§
Production of agricultural inputs such as feeds,
veterinary drugs and vaccines, fertilizers, and agri-chemicals
for export;
§
Projects
involving the processing of agricultural waste materials
into a commercially valuable product for export; and
§
Bio-technology products using agricultural products as
inputs or to be used as inputs for agricultural
production.
All
applications for Peza registration of proposed
agro-industrial economic zones must be favorably
endorsed by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“The
agro-industrial ecozones will spur the development of
surrounding areas by providing livelihood and job
opportunities in food, transport, small retail business,
housing, etc.,” de Lima said. |
