Proclamation No. 944: A milestone for Laguna
The RA affirms Proclamation No. 944, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which officially recognizes a portion of SM City Santa Rosa as a special IT ecozone under PEZA.
Accreditation grants fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to IT enterprises, including income tax holidays, tax and duty exemptions, streamlined import-export processes, and access to special non-immigrant visas.
Beyond incentives, the designation ensures top-tier infrastructure and efficient government support, providing global competitiveness for IT-BPM locators.
SM Offices: Expanding beyond Metro Manila
“The partnership with PEZA underscores our dedication to providing world-class spaces for the IT-BPM industry,” said Alexis Ortiga, vice president and head of SM Offices at SM Prime.
Ortiga emphasized Santa Rosa’s strategic advantage—proximity to talent, strong infrastructure, and lifestyle amenities—that make it ideal for long-term IT-BPM growth.
SM Offices has consistently supported the sector through ecozone-accredited developments such as the E-Com Centers in the Mall of Asia Complex and the SM North EDSA Towers in Quezon City. The Santa Rosa IT Center expands this presence into provincial growth corridors.
PEZA: Job creation and countryside investments
PEZA Director General Tereso Panga hailed the proclamation as a win for regional development:
“The proclamation of SM City Santa Rosa as an IT Center opens new doors for job creation and investment opportunities in the countryside. PEZA stands ready to handhold locators as we advance our country’s role as one of Asia’s leading global IT-BPM hubs.”
PEZA recorded P154.70 billion in approved investments from 215 projects in the first nine months of 2025, a 33.5-percent jump from P115.89 billion a year ago and already 61.9 percent of its P250-billion full-year target.
Driving growth in Laguna and beyond
The Santa Rosa IT Center is expected to elevate Laguna as a preferred IT-BPM hub, creating jobs, spurring local businesses, and attracting more investors.
The project underscores the shared mission of PEZA and SM Prime to spread growth outside Metro Manila and bolster the Philippines’ standing in the global IT-BPM industry. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
