Nine in 10 registered business enterprises (RBEs) with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) source their raw materials locally, seen as boosting micro, small and medium companies (MSMEs) within and outside ecozones.

Results of a survey conducted by PEZA between August 7 and September 9 this year showed 89 percent of PEZA RBEs get their packaging materials, raw materials, and even machinery and equipment from local suppliers.

Another 30 percent engaged in subcontracting with non-PEZA registered companies for due cutting, sewing, manpower and security services.

Based on the survey, there are 722 Filipino MSMEs that are registered with PEZA, which is approximately 20 percent of all RBEs numbering 3,449.

Of that total, 1,106 are Filipino- owned.

The total RBEs have invested P1.9 trillion in their operations locally, and employ 1.06 million.

The Filipino-owned RBEs invested P561 billion and employ 411,427.

MSMEs have invested P53 billion to date.

Tereso Panga, PEZA director-general, reported these in a meeting with Acting Trade Secretary and PEZA Board Chairman Secretary Cristina Roque   as he provided some key insights into the role MSMEs play in its ecozones. 

When ecozones get set up, not only do MSMEs become part of global value chains, but they sometimes become locators themselves, Panga said in a statement. 

PEZA aims to support the DTI;s mission to develop Filipino MSMEs by advancing programs such as conducting reverse trade fairs where suppliers get an idea of the products that RBEs need to source locally, setting up a startup accelerator hub inside a PEZA-owned zone, producing an online PEZA digital marketplace, participating in QSWEEP platform led by the Export Marketing Bureau, and promoting investments in labor-intensive manufacturing sectors.