PEZA pushes pharmazone strategy at HOPE Asia

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) reaffirmed its strategic role in strengthening healthcare procurement and supply chain systems during the inaugural HOPE Asia Convention and Exhibition held June 10 at the Century Park Hotel, Manila.

Delivering a keynote address, PEZA Deputy Director General for Policy and Planning Anidelle Joy M. Alguso presented key initiatives aimed at bolstering the country’s position as a hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and logistics. Her presentation, titled “Strengthening Global Competitiveness: PEZA’s Strategic Role in Procurement & Supply Chain Support for Ecozone Locators”, emphasized the agency’s focus on ecozones as dual-purpose platforms—eco-shields and eco-drivers—for both national protection and economic advancement.

Alguso highlighted the release of the new PEZA Guidelines on Pharmazone Registration and Incentive Administration, developed in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and private sector partners. The policy seeks to attract high-value pharmaceutical investments by providing a stable regulatory environment and fiscal incentives for developers and registered business enterprises (RBEs) operating in Pharmazones.

“This is not just about procurement. This is about progress,” said DDG Alguso. “By integrating healthcare-related industries into our ecozones, we are building localized, self-reliant ecosystems that deliver both economic opportunity and public health security.”

The convention brought together stakeholders from across the healthcare and procurement landscape, including suppliers, innovators, and government agencies. Department of Health Undersecretary Emmie Liza Perez-Chiong, MD, also addressed the gathering, offering detailed insights into the recently passed New Government Procurement Act (RA 12009), which modernizes the country’s procurement framework.

PEZA’s participation in the event aligns with the Marcos administration’s broader push to modernize the Philippine healthcare system and strengthen local manufacturing capabilities. The agency’s initiatives position ecozones not only as investment hubs but as enablers of ethical, resilient, and globally competitive healthcare ecosystems.

The HOPE Asia Convention marked a milestone in fostering public-private collaboration and highlighted the growing recognition of procurement as a strategic lever for national development.