President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has declared the Aboitiz Group’s Biz Hub at Lima Estate in Lipa City, Batangas as a special economic zone, paving the way for the mixed-use development to attract more information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) investments outside Metro Manila.
Under Proclamation No. 1385, signed on Aug. 6, Marcos designated the 288,314-square-meter property in Barangay Bugtong na Pulo as a Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-registered information technology park.
The proclamation, issued upon the recommendation of the PEZA Board of Directors, allows companies locating in the development to qualify for incentives under the CREATE MORE Act, strengthening the estate’s appeal to technology firms looking to expand or relocate operations.
The designation comes as the government steps up efforts to spread investment beyond traditional business districts, with regional IT parks emerging as a key strategy for generating jobs while easing congestion in Metro Manila.
For Aboitiz InfraCapital, the PEZA accreditation adds another growth engine to Lima Estate, one of Southern Luzon’s largest integrated industrial and commercial developments, by broadening its tenant base beyond manufacturing to include high-value digital and knowledge-based industries.
The move also reflects the continuing evolution of economic zones as competition for investment increasingly shifts from export manufacturing to technology, shared services, and digital businesses seeking modern infrastructure and fiscal incentives.
Established under Republic Act No. 7916, PEZA develops and regulates special economic zones to attract local and foreign investments, boost exports, create employment, and strengthen industrial linkages.
The inclusion of Biz Hub at Lima Estate expands the country’s network of IT parks at a time when the Philippines is seeking to reinforce its position as a regional hub for information technology and business process management services. The availability of investment incentives, coupled with locations outside the capital, is expected to help sustain industry growth while encouraging more balanced regional economic development.
