The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has approved PHP807.83 billion investments since September 2016. In a statement Friday, PEZA director general Charito Plaza reported that there were 88 special economic zones (SEZ) registered during the Duterte administration. These numbers contributed to the total investment approvals in the investment promotion agency since its inception in 1995 amounting to PHP4.04 trillion, and now with a total of 415 SEZs across the country. PEZA has 4,665 locators to date. Jobs created within the economic zones reached more than 1.78 million. “With the national elections just around the corner, PEZA’s mission is beyond politics

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is eyeing to speed up the clearing of trees damaged by Typhoon Odette with more simplified process to secure a permit to cut coconut trees. PCA Eastern Visayas regional manager Joel Pilapil on Friday said the typhoon-ravaged provinces of Southern Leyte and Leyte are among the areas in the country covered by a memorandum that will take effect for one year beginning March 2, 2022. Memorandum Circular No. 02 calls for ” a moratorium on the issuance of a regular permit to cut coconut trees and in lieu thereof, the issuance of (a) special permit

Monetary authorities are closely monitoring developments overseas such as upticks in oil prices, its impact on domestic inflation and any second-round effects. Prices of oil in the international market further rose recently and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno, in a Viber message to journalists on Friday, traced this to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which “have raised global and domestic macroeconomic uncertainty over the near term.” “Under these circumstances, the BSP will continue to closely monitor the emerging risks to the outlook for inflation and remain vigilant against possible second-round effects from supply-side pressures or

Five housing projects will be built for the indigenous peoples (IPs) communities in Mindanao, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said Friday. Some 250 IP families belonging to the Higaonon tribe in Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region will benefit from the Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable, and Inclusive Filipino communities (BALAI) program. They are among IP communities cleared of the influence of communist terrorist groups. DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said the housing projects will be built in Barangay Kibanban, Balingasag town, and Barangay Minalwang, Claveria in Misamis Oriental; Barangay Kamagong, Nasipit and Barangay Bokbokan, Las Nieves,