CAGAYAN FREEPORT – The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) has received praise from key members of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board Regional Development Committee (RDCom) for its infrastructure development projects here following the RDCom Area Heads Meeting cum project visit last May 27 (Friday).

The appreciation is a reinforcement of CEZA’s efforts in ensuring that the significant developments needed in the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport (CSEZFP) are gradually realized.

Mr. Leonardo C. Cruz, Head Technical Assistant, and OIC for Cagayan Offices thanked the NEDA Board RDCom members for their time in benchmarking the developments initiated by CEZA in the Zone.

Cruz, who represented Secretary Raul L. Lambino, assured that the agency will sustain its partnership with NEDA to reach the full potential of the CSEZFP.

All these major infrastructure and development projects in CSEZFP were accomplished under the leadership of Secretary Lambino.

In his message, NEDA Assistant Secretary, Greg L. Pineda said the projects initiated by CEZA have great potential in bringing inclusive growth to Cagayan Freeport, indicating their support for these projects as well as future projects of the agency.

“It’s not a matter of looking at our difference, rather how we can help each other. As long as we share a common vision and aspiration of the national government, despite our individualities, we are still one nation. We need to unite for nation-building,” Asec. Pineda said.

Meanwhile, to highlight CEZA’s achievements, Cir Rodney C. Cacatian, Department Manager for Management Services made a presentation on the agency’s Master Development Plan and its current development projects. Cacatian said CEZA will continue to embark on infrastructure developments to maximize the full potential of the Zone.

“We already made our mark in our contribution to the ‘Build Build Build’ Program of our outgoing President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, hence, we will embrace the same zeal with our plans and programs that may entail for the ‘Build Build More’ of the incoming administration,” he said.

The said project visits took place well at the three-hectare site development project in the CEZA Business District (CBD) where the CEZA Corporate Center, the project briefing venue, and the CEZA Commercial Center are situated.

The planned CEZA Malasakit Medical Center, which will provide medical attention to patients in Santa Ana and its neighboring towns, is also expected to be placed in the CBD.

The next visit completed here was the Port Irene improvements in Barangay Casambalangan. During the visit, Engr. Julian Jovy B. Gonzales, CEZA Engineer Vdiscussed the projects that are currently implemented in the area such as developments of port facilities, additional roads and bridges, and the substantially completed four-unit warehouse and warehouse offices, two-four-unit warehouse, and warehouse offices.

The development of laydown areas and dredging activities are also being undertaken —to create deep water ports for large ships. Meanwhile, Engr. Carlo Sales, Engineer IV, also discussed the ongoing improvement and rehabilitation of the 50-year-old Port Irene.

Moreover, the RDCom members and NEDA staff also had a side trip in the morning at Cagayan North International Airport (CNIA), in Lal-lo, Cagayan —a joint-venture project of CEZA with Cagayan Premium Ventures Development Corporation, and the Alpha Palawig Mixed-Use Building in Palawig, Santa Ana.

In addition, the Regional Development Council II- Regional Project Monitoring Committee also conducted their field monitoring visit to thirteen (13) infrastructure projects of CEZA held in the third week of May 2022. (with inputs from the Corporate Planning Division and Michelle Agabin– Acting Head of Investment Promotion Division)