In his special message, Mr. Greg L. Pineda, NEDA Assistant Secretary, said that the projects initiated by CEZA have a vast potential on bringing inclusive growth in the zone and signified their support for those and future projects of CEZA.

“It’s not a matter of looking at our difference, rather how we can help each other. As long as we share a common vision and aspiration of the national government, despite our individualities, we are still one nation. We need to unite for nation-building,” expressed Asec. Pineda.

Mr. Leonardo C. Cruz, Head Technical Assistant, and OIC for Cagayan Offices, expressed his gratitude to the NEDA Board RDCom members for taking the time in benchmarking the initiated developments of CEZA. Mr. Cruz guaranteed that they would sustain their partnership with NEDA to achieve the full potential of the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (CSEZFP).

Highlighting CEZA’s accomplishments, Mr. Cir Rodney C. Cacatian, Department Manager for Management Services, also presented the Master Development Plan and its current development projects. Mr. Cacatian added that CEZA would continue to embark on infrastructure developments to maximize the full potential of the CSEZFP.

“We already made our mark in our contribution to Build Build Build Program of our outgoing President Rodrigo Roa Duterte; hence, we will embrace the same zeal with our plans and programs that may entail for the Build Build More of the incoming administration,” said Mr. Cacatian.

The project visits properly ensued at the three-hectare site development project in the CEZA Business District where the CEZA Corporate Center, the venue of the project briefing, and the CEZA Commercial Center were currently situated.

The CEZA Business District is also expected to house the proposed CEZA Malasakit Medical Center which will soon provide medical attention to the patients from Santa Ana and its neighboring towns. The next visit completed in the Zone was Port Irene improvements led by Engr. Julian Jovy B. Gonzales, Engineer V, discussing the ongoing projects in the area including the developments of its facilities, additional road and bridge, and the substantially completed four-unit warehouse and warehouse offices, two-four-unit warehouse, and warehouse offices.

Likewise, the development of the laydown areas and the dredging activities are being undertaken to generate deep water ports for large vessels. The ongoing improvements and rehabilitation of the 50-year-old port were discussed by Engr. Carlo Sales, Engineer IV, with the assistance of the project contractor onsite engineer.

Furthermore, RDCom members and NEDA staff also had a side trip in the morning at the Cagayan North International Airport (CNIA), in Lal-lo, Cagayan- a joint-venture project of CEZA with the Cagayan Premium Ventures Development Corporation, and the Alpha Palawig Mixed-Use Building in Palawig, Santa Ana, a private sector-initiated project.

The Regional Development Council II- Regional Project Monitoring Committee also conducted their Field Monitoring Visit to the thirteen (13) infrastructure projects that CEZA held on the third week of May 2022.

All the major infrastructure projects and developments in CSEZFP were accomplished during the leadership of CEZA Sec. Raul L. Lambino. (with inputs from the Corporate Planning Division)