As the term of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ends, the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) is ready to face the challenges of the next administration.

CEZA, a government-owned and controlled agency that runs the 54,000-hectare Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (CSEZFP) in Santa Ana, Cagayan, vowed to remain committed to fulfilling its mandate of managing and developing the freeport into a self-sustaining industrial, commercial, financial, investment, and tourism destination.

Secretary Raul L. Lambino, CEZA Administrator and Chief Executive Officer said the agency will continue to pursue economic policies and infrastructure projects initiated by the Duterte administration.

“It is a great honor to showcase and fulfill the vision and mission of the agency in line with the ‘Build Build Build’ program of the administration, where various major infrastructure projects inside the Cagayan Freeport are already completed and will soon be leased by CEZA locators,” said Secretary Lambino.

CEZA’s infrastructure projects will make a significant contribution to the national government as they bolster the economic growth in Cagayan Valley Region. Moreover, the Cagayan Freeport is located at the crossroads of the international shipping route between east and west and is economically accessible to emerging international markets.

The CEZA as an investment promotion agency is ready to help the next administration in stimulating and sustaining economic growth by attracting more domestic and foreign investors and stakeholders from BPO, information technology, financial technology, and tourism to locate in Cagayan Freeport which would create jobs for thousand Filipinos.

The namesake son of late President Ferdinand Marcos made history by winning more than 31 million votes in the May 2022 election and was greeted by some world leaders who expressed their hope to advance the long-standing good relations between their country and the Philippines under his administration.

Under the administration of Marcos Jr. (also known as BBM), atop his policy priorities are the economy, agriculture, and sovereignty.

While the newly elected administration is set to inherit many of President Duterte’s flagship economic programs, these 31 million Filipinos are hoping for a “more robust economic growth and development” and that the critical issues facing the country like soaring food and fuel costs will be addressed quickly.

When BBM assumed the presidency on June 30, he is greeted by a mountain of economic challenges, nevertheless, CEZA is ready to assist the new administration in achieving a robust economic recovery, stimulating economic growth, and improving the quality of life of Filipinos.

Once again, the caliber of CEZA employees as public servants will be tested but as Secretary Raul Lambino said in his State of the Zone Address, ”The caliber of our CEZA Employees are remarkable. Their tenacity to get the job done has demonstrated the potential of the CEZA organization.” With the assurance that CEZA will continue to value the spirit of unity and cooperation as we move forward in advancing economic development in the Cagayan Valley Region. (With inputs from LIZ LAGNITON- CEZA Writer and MICHELLE AGABIN- Acting Head of Investment Promotion Division)