PEZA investor to donate land to transfer 3 branches of gov’t offices in Quezon

MANILA—An investor will be donating some 200 hectares of land in Mauban, Quezon as National Government Center, proposing to transfer in the area the head offices of the three branches of the government—the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.

Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Charito Plaza told reporters that the owner of F1 Hotel named Philip Cea eyes to give the government a 200-hectare property in Region IV-A to where the new Malacañang Palace, Senate and Congress, and Supreme Court may rise.

Plaza said the initiative aims to decongest Metro Manila by transferring these public offices.

She added that these government offices will still be accessible as the businessman also wants to invest in physical connectivity infrastructure such as roads, railway, seaport, and airport in Mauban, Quezon linking the National Capital Region.

The PEZA chief mentioned that Sia is investing around USD300 million to USD400 million to develop the 1,500-hectare Greater Lucena Integrated Economic Zone as a new PEZA-registered ecozone.

Plaza said the ecozone will be a mixed-use development hosting seaport, airport, manufacturing zones, and tourism zones, among others.

The 200-hectare land for National Government Center is on top of the 1,500-hectare ecozone registered in PEZA.

“We are asking for a courtesy call (in Malacañang). We will bring all big locators of PEZA to present their projects (to President Rodrigo Duterte),” said Plaza.