AN economist-lawmaker urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to appoint a Director General for the Philippine Economic Zone Authority as soon as possible, saying the leadership issue in the agency will make investors think “our investment regime is overly politicized and therefore risky.”
“That means, we are surely getting the bad parts of a weak currency, such as high import prices, but we are handicapped from taking advantage of the better parts, such as higher exports-to-peso value and more competitive export pricing,” he added. The “dispute” Salceda refers to is the competing claims to the post of head of PEZA between Duterte-era Director-General Charito Plaza, and the Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director General Tereso Panga.
“Only PBBM can decisively end the confusion through an appointment. The PEZA law is very clear that the Director General is appointed by the President,” Salceda said. “I have several names in my head, although I don’t know how many of them will be willing to take on the role,” he said.