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Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)

It is a 288-hectare mixed-use development project, which will be established in Tagbanao Area, Sitio Depot, Barangay Upper Ulip, Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province. It is the first of its kind among the new types of ecozones that will be promoted by PMDC in partnership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

Strategic frameworks; there must be an alignment between investment in zones and outside of zones, as well as close links between the zone program and wider strategies of
trade and industrialization. This helps ensure long-term political support and resource commitments to zone development; more importantly, the synergies between the zones and national development create a mutually reinforcing and self-supporting system where the benefits of zones flow forward, backward, and horizontally, expanding capacity and improving competitiveness.

NEW MINING-RELATED INVESTMENTS AND PRODUCTS

  • Gold Processing and Refinery (Industrial)
  • Jewelry Manufacturing Facility
  • Jewelry Park
  • Tourism Facilities

RA 7916 or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995, declares it a policy of the State to actively encourage, promote, induce and accelerate a sound and balanced industrial, economic and social development of the country in order to provide jobs to the people especially those in the rural areas, increase their productivity and their individual and family income, and thereby improve the level and quality of their living condition through the establishment, among others, of special economic zones in suitable and strategic locations in the country. These national government agencies are directed to hasten human capital and infrastructure development, as well as to provide needed interventions to strengthen ecozones in the countryside, and ensure the development of backward and forward linkages of industries and around such ecozones.

Establishment and promotion of the Diwalwal Special Economic Zone and Jewelry Park project in partnership with PEZA and other government agencies

As part of the priority projects under the Diwalwal Mineral Reservation Area (DMRA) Action Plan 2017-2022, the PMDC shall develop and implement the Diwalwal Special Economic Zone and Jewelry Park in Tagbanao Area, Sitio Depot, Barangay Upper Ulip, Monkayo, Davao de Oro Province. The development of the special ecozone in Diwalwal has been identified as one of the pilot projects of PMDC in partnership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) as specified in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by PEZA and PMDC on November 17, 2017. Meanwhile, the PEZA Board has approved last March 12, 2021 through Resolution No. 21-043, the application of the PHILIPPINE MINING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (PMDC) for the grant of a pre-qualification clearance for the declaration of a 2,880,000-square meter land (288 hectares), as Special Economic Zone, henceforth to be known as PMDC DIWALWAL ECONOMIC ZONE, subject to Presidential Proclamation. The PMDC Diwalwal Economic Zone is designed to attract locators and investors engaged in mineral processing, gold refining, jewelry making and other value adding activities. These activities are expected to generate revenues for the government and create economic opportunities for the communities in the DMRA. The special economic zone is also aligned with the government’s initiative to attract mineral processing companies in the Philippines to minimize the country’s exportation of raw materials. In fact, PEZA has invited industries to convert raw materials into high value finished products as the country has a strong potential to develop mineral processing hubs due to the presence of rich mineral reserves.

Presidential Proclamation

As stated in PEZA Board Resolution No. 21-043, the PMDC as the Developer/Operator is required to submit all the necessary requirements prior to PEZA’s endorsement to the President for proclamation of the subject area as Special Economic Zone. The PMDC through its Business Development Department has worked on the submission of the PEZA requirements and currently undertaking important activities in partnership with relevant government agencies such as the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for the required Free, Prior and Informed Consent and issuance of the Certification Precondition. The PMDC is also actively working with the DENR’s Land Management Bureau for the required verified survey returns of the proposed project site. Likewise, the Environment Management Bureau is expected to issue this month the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the said project.

LGU Endorsement

The SB of Monkayo approved and endorsed the proposed Diwalwal Special Economic Zone and Jewelry Park Project through SB Resolution No. 21 Series of 2018. However, the endorsement was recalled by the SB by filing Resolution No. 119, Series of 2018.

In order address this concern, PEZA requested the LGU of Monkayo for the immediate re-issuance of the endorsement in a letter dated June 14 and received by the LGU last June 22, 2021. The SB of Monkayo conducted a committee hearing attended by PMDC and PEZA representatives via zoom teleconference last July 19, 2021. With the new administration, the PMDC has requested the Local Government of Monkayo for the issuance of the required endorsement for the establishment and successful implementation of the special economic zone in Diwalwal.