PEZA, Pag-IBIG explore housing partnership for ecozone workers

Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga and Pag-IBIG Fund President and CEO Marilene Acosta have agreed to work together on developing affordable housing solutions for workers in the country’s economic zones.

The meeting between the two career public servants follows their joint appearance on the television program Rated K, where both were featured for their commitment to public service. Building on that momentum, the two agency leaders identified key areas for collaboration that align with their respective mandates—PEZA as the prime mover of industrial growth through ecozones, and Pag-IBIG as a leading provider of housing finance for Filipino workers.

A technical working group (TWG) will be formed to advocate Pag-IBIG’s housing programs among PEZA’s private developer-operator partners. One of the pilot projects will focus on the Cavite Economic Zone, a flagship PEZA site, where housing developments could be integrated to support the growing workforce.

The proposed initiative aims to address the housing needs of thousands of workers employed within PEZA-managed zones, offering them access to affordable and accessible shelter near their places of employment.

Both Acosta and Panga emphasized their commitment to improving workers’ welfare, noting that the partnership is a step toward strengthening social services in the context of economic development. The move aligns with broader government goals to improve living standards while supporting industrial productivity.

The PEZA-Pag-IBIG collaboration is expected to open up new avenues for public-private partnerships that support inclusive and sustainable development across the country’s economic zones.