CLARK FREEPORT ZONE (PIA) — The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) is pushing for more transparent and technology-driven regulatory systems as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards increasingly influence investment decisions and business operations in Clark Freeport Zone.
During the EcoGovernance Summit 2026, CDC President and Chief Executive Officer Agnes Devanadera said environmental compliance systems must keep pace with Clark’s expanding investment base and the growing expectations of international investors.
She said investors continue to seek clearer requirements and more predictable permitting processes, stressing that transparency is central to ease of doing business.
“Let’s be more transparent and let’s be more clear, for example, on the requirements and how we can comply, how we can make people comply with the requirements. And this is the very essence of the ease of doing business,” Devanadera said.
The CDC chief also called for the wider use of technology and automation in government permitting and compliance processes.
CDC reported that Clark Freeport now hosts 1,285 locator companies and has generated P372 billion in investments while supporting more than 151,000 jobs since 2022.
According to Devanadera, many Clark locators are expected by their home countries to comply with ESG standards.
Because of this, regulatory systems are increasingly assessed not only on compliance outcomes but also on their transparency, predictability, and accessibility.
She added that compliance requirements should be clearly posted through offices, websites, and digital platforms to ensure stakeholders have access to accurate and consistent information.
The initiative aligns with the administration’s broader push for digital governance and streamlined government services, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored in his 5th State of the Nation Address through efforts to expand digital government services and simplify public transactions.
For CDC, regulatory modernization is becoming an important part of environmental governance and investment competitiveness as Clark continues to attract larger and more complex investments. (Rick P. Quiambao)
