LAOAG CITY – Close to 900 hectares of idle lots located in at least eight villages in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte are being considered as sites for economic zone development.
In a media interview on Thursday, Pagudpud Mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito II said that with government intervention, these underutilized lots could be turned productive by declaring them as economic zones to attract developers and investors.
For this, the municipal government of Pagudpud sought the help of the Ilocos Norte provincial board to endorse the establishment of five special economic zones in the municipality.
These lots include the proposed 122.39-hectare agro-industrial economic zone in Barangays Caparispisan and Subec; 386.80-hectare tourism economic zone in Barangay Caparispisan; 122.56-hectare industrial economic zone in Barangays Agassi and Tarrag; 114.84-hectare information technology park in Barangays Caunayan and Balaoi; and the 132.16-hectare free port zone in Barangays Pasaleng, Caunayan, Caparisipisan, and Poblacion 1.
These are contained in Municipal Resolutions 2025-125 to 129, authorizing Benemerito to represent the municipality in the transactions with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
“This is just the first stage of our proposal, and we are glad for the support of the provincial government,” he said.
Rona Leigh Bueno, Ilocos Norte Trade and Investment Promotions Office head, welcomed the initiative from the Pagudpud government.
“We have been looking for strategic lots with potential for economic zones and we are glad the municipal government of Pagudpud has taken the initiative,” Bueno said during a public hearing at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall on Thursday.
Bueno added that the creation of ecozones would drive development in the province by attracting strategic investments with a focus on diversifying industries.
The hearing was attended by members of the provincial board, as well as the municipal and village officials of Pagudpud.
Benemerito said with the support of the provincial government, it would be easier for them to transact with PEZA for the possible declaration of Pagudpud’s selected sites as economic zones.
In 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that Ilocos Norte is the fastest-growing economy in the Ilocos Region, with services, accommodation, transportation, and storage among the major industries that posted strong output, ranging from 15.6 percent to 29.7 percent. (PNA)