Mactan Economic Zone
MANILA -- The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) aims to expand the Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ) in Cebu as many existing locators expressed their plans to grow their businesses.
PEZA Director General Charito Plaza told reporters that the agency targets to bolster the ecozone to another 200-hectare property.
“We are now applying for reclamation because we want to expand the land of Mactan Economic Zone,” she said.
Plaza said PEZA is looking for a partner to develop the ecozone expansion, which will take place in the coastal area of MEZ.
PEZA Deputy Director General Tereso Panga said the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) is also considering the construction of the second runway of the Mactan airport inside the ecozone involving reclamation.
Panga said another option for MCIAA is to develop the new runway in the adjacent residential area.
“PEZA and the MEZ locators, with the support of Lapu-Lapu City local government unit, are all objecting to the first option,” he added.
Plaza further said constructing the runway inside the ecozone might result in locators incurring PHP150-billion damage due to interruption in their business operations.
“You have to consider not just the physical damage, every day that will delay the operations will affect the buyers, they might lose their buyers. They don’t want disruption. And the social implications, those who will be losing their jobs,” she said. (PNA)
