Insider Spotlight
The push follows an industry forum held in Clark, Pampanga, where Schneider Electric, Peza, Filinvest, and ecozone operators discussed initiatives including solar rooftop deployment, incentives for high-efficiency motors, support for electric vehicle adoption, and business matching programs connecting locators with energy providers.
Why it matters
Philippine special economic zones account for more than half of the country's commodity exports, making reliable and affordable energy critical to maintaining competitiveness amid power volatility and growing industrial requirements.
“Energy technology, along with policy and infrastructure planning, becomes critical in helping industries adopt solutions that are practical, reliable, and capable of supporting long-term growth and resilience against any crises,” Schneider Electric Philippines head of government affairs and territory sustainability leader Atty. Norman Roland Ocana III said in a press statement.
The bigger picture
The forum highlighted a broader ecosystem approach involving government agencies, developers, and technology providers. Schneider Electric is supporting industries through energy management, automation, and digital platforms designed to improve visibility into energy consumption and operational performance.
Peza, meanwhile, is pursuing charter amendments aimed at streamlining compliance requirements and improving coordination among government agencies.
“Our goal is to improve alignment across agencies so companies can operate with less friction,” Peza deputy director general for policy and planning Emmanuel D. Cortero said.
“We are creating an environment where businesses are more resilient to volatility and more efficient in operations.”
Clark has emerged as a focal point of that strategy. Located within the Luzon Economic Corridor, the industrial hub grew from 1,113 companies and 136,836 workers in mid-2023 to 1,213 companies and more than 145,000 workers by 2025.
The zone also attracted P77 billion in investments in 2024 across semiconductors, renewable energy, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.
What’s next
Peza is advancing a nationwide strategy centered on digitalized investor processes, countryside expansion, and the integration of renewable energy and microgrid systems into ecozone infrastructure.
The agency’s long-term investment priorities also include renewable energy and related activities to strengthen energy security and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.
“We’re seeing the scale of prospective locators such as data centers and electronics manufacturers requiring significant levels of power and water supply,” Filinvest Land Inc. senior vice president Francis V. Ceballos said. “Industrial zones have to be prepared to take on these requirements.” —Vanessa Hidalgo| Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
