Sustainable industrial development is rapidly becoming a defining pillar of economic policy in Southeast Asia, especially as governments and authorities balance growth with climate commitments, energy efficiency, and global competitiveness. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Philippines, where the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is redefining how ecozones can drive economic growth while embedding sustainable environmental responsibility into industrial strategy.

PEZA is the government agency responsible for the planning, development, operation, and management of special economic zones across the Philippines. Established under the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995, PEZA’s core missions include transforming selected areas into industrial, commercial, tourism, and investment centers; attracting both local and foreign investments; creating employment opportunities; and promoting industrial cooperation and modernization of the country’s economic landscape through a more sustainable approach to industrial development. To achieve these goals, PEZA provides a conducive business environment that facilitates investor registration, offers fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, and coordinates with national agencies and local government units to develop necessary infrastructure and services within ecozones.

On 15 December 2025 in Manila, PEZA and Ampotech signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deploy intelligent energy and carbon management solutions throughout PEZA industrial parks and facilities. This collaboration, announced in the press release PEZA Signs MOU with Ampotech to Create Sustainable Ecozones, highlights an innovative approach to unifying and optimizing building energy management, solar and energy storage systems, and asset tracking. The goal is to demonstrate measurable energy savings and enhanced traceability of carbon emissions across PEZA-registered enterprises, supporting more sustainable ecozone development and operations. The project, which remains under discussion, is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

PEZA’s Vision for Sustainable Ecozones

It’s clear that sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for PEZA—it’s embedded in its long-term strategy. Under the leadership of Director General Tereso Panga, PEZA has emphasized integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles throughout the authority’s operations and ecozone planning. As Director General, Panga said:

“PEZA has taken significant strides in embedding sustainability and ESG principles into its operations. As such, we have taken initiatives towards future proofing, evolving, embracing, empowering, and modernizing our ecozones — from renewable energy integration and waste-to-resource programs to sustainable operations reporting and eco-industrial park certifications.”

This quote captures PEZA’s commitment to leveraging innovation and policy frameworks to attract investments that are both economically impactful and environmentally responsible—a strategy increasingly vital for industries facing heightened expectations from global consumers, investors, and regulatory environments.

Historically, PEZA’s ecozones have generated significant economic value. With hundreds of zones operating across different sectors—ranging from manufacturing and information technology parks to agro-industrial and tourism zones—PEZA has been instrumental in driving job creation, exports, and regional development.

Ampotech’s Role in Advancing Ecozone Modernization

Ampotech’s involvement marks a key expansion into the Philippines following a year of regional growth that saw new offices open in Malaysia, Hong Kong SAR, and Indonesia. The company brings deep experience in deploying AI- and Internet of Things (IoT)-based energy solutions across commercial, industrial, and solar assets. These technologies will form the backbone of PEZA’s performance monitoring and optimization framework, enabling real-time visibility into energy usage and carbon performance.

At the core of this initiative is Ampotech’s integrated digital platform, AmpoCloud, capable of aggregating disparate energy and operational data into actionable insights. This supports smarter energy decision-making, proactive emissions reporting, and efficient resource utilization.

Sharing his thoughts on the collaboration, Ampotech CEO and Co-Founder William Temple said:

“We are thrilled to collaborate with PEZA on this initiative. Their vision and the scale of the Ecozones provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate the full suite of capabilities in our AmpoCloud platform and create a meaningful impact that can serve as a template for other economic zones and industrial parks across Southeast Asia.”

Temple’s statement underscores not only the technological innovation driving this project but also the broader potential for scaling similar solutions across regional industrial parks.

Catalyzing Regional Impact and Industry Transformation

As part of the scoping activities, PEZA and Ampotech will work together to develop an execution framework for multi-zone implementation. This will include identifying priority ecozones, aligning technical requirements, and designing monitoring and reporting systems capable of supporting both operational goals and environmental commitments.

The partnership also aligns with PEZA’s broader efforts to modernize infrastructure and integrate intelligent systems throughout its ecozones—strengthening the Philippines’ competitiveness as a destination for quality investments that emphasize both economic performance and environmental stewardship.

Moreover, this initiative serves as a strategic blueprint for other authorities seeking to accelerate their own transitions toward integrated, data-driven industrial ecosystems. By deploying advanced energy management and carbon tracking technologies, ecozones can attract forward-looking investors, reduce operational costs, and strengthen resilience against future energy and regulatory shifts.

In a world where industrial competitiveness increasingly depends on environmental performance and digital innovation, the PEZA–Ampotech collaboration represents more than a single project—it’s a signal of how public-private partnerships can accelerate sustainable industrial transformation across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Read the full press release HERE.

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