By the Blocktec Editorial Team
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a larger footprint for the LIMA Technology Center special economic zone in Malvar, Batangas. Proclamation No. 1499, signed on November 4, 2026 and made public on November 10-11, adds 79,937 square meters, or nearly eight hectares, in Barangay Bagong Pook.
What Proclamation No. 1499 Does
The proclamation brings the extra land into the LIMA special economic zone, which is developed and run by Aboitiz Economic Estates. The area is 79,937 sq m. To picture it, one hectare is 10,000 sq m, so this is a little under eight hectares of additional ecozone land.
The board of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) recommended the inclusion. The legal basis is the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 (RA 7916), as amended by RA 8748. The new area also remains subject to the conditions set by the PEZA board.
LIMA Today: The Numbers
LIMA is already one of the busier industrial estates in Batangas. Here are the key figures:
- More than 200 locators (companies operating inside the estate)
- About P128.9 billion in cumulative investments
- Roughly 75,000 jobs supported
Locators work in electronics, semiconductors, automotive parts, precision manufacturing, logistics and consumer goods. Among them are Epson Precision Philippines, Yamaha Motor Philippines and Kinpo.
In plain terms, P128.9 billion is the total that companies have put into the estate over its life, not a one-year figure. The 75,000 jobs are the estimated number of workers the estate supports.
What Officials Said
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the expansion means more investment, more jobs and more business for local suppliers in Batangas. He added that larger ecozones let companies grow while giving Filipinos work closer to home. The government presents the move as part of a wider push to spread industry beyond Metro Manila.
What We Do Not Know Yet
The proclamation does not name any company expected to locate on the new land. It also gives no committed investment amount and no job target for the eight hectares. The economic effect will depend on how quickly locators actually build there.
That means the proclamation is a land approval, not a construction announcement. Builders and suppliers should watch for follow-up news from Aboitiz Economic Estates and PEZA.
Part Of A Wider Batangas Trend
This is the third Batangas ecozone expansion of 2026. In March, about 7.2 hectares were added at First Philippine Industrial Park II. In July, roughly 30.8 hectares were added at Light Industry & Science Park IV. With LIMA's nearly 8 hectares, the three additions come to about 46 hectares across the province.
PEZA has also said it exceeded its 2026 investment approval target and is pushing for more ecozone space.
What It Means For Builders
No buildings have been announced yet, so treat this as an early signal rather than a confirmed project pipeline. Still, new ecozone land usually leads to factories, warehouses and support buildings, and the contractors who prepare early tend to win the schedule-driven work.
For wall packages in industrial buildings, three questions usually decide the spec: fire rating, heat and noise control, and speed of installation. Blocktec's AAC blocks are tested at a 4-hour fire resistance rating, with thermal conductivity of about 0.16 W/mK and sound reduction up to STC 44 for a 150 mm wall in tested configurations. A trained mason with a helper lays about 10-12 m2 per 8-hour shift, and up to 20 m2 on straight runs. Blocks go up with thin-bed adhesive and a skimcoat finish, so it is walang palitada, which trims a wet trade from the schedule.
On cost, Blocktec's own sample comparison showed up to about 21% savings on the wall system versus hollow blocks. That figure is project-dependent, so run your own numbers against your plans.
If you supply or build in Batangas, our Laguna (Cabuyao) hub is the closest of our supply points. Estimators can start by listing wall areas by type: perimeter, fire-separation, office partitions and warehouse infill. That makes it easier to compare wall systems once a real project appears.
Sources
- Context.ph: Marcos expands LIMA ecozone for new industrial investments (Nov 10, 2026)
- Daily Tribune: Marcos OKs LIMA economic zone expansion (Nov 11, 2026)
- Daily Tribune: PBBM expands Batangas economic zone (Nov 11, 2026)
Planning a factory or warehouse near LIMA or elsewhere in Batangas? Send your wall area or blueprints to sales@blocktec.ph or through blocktec.ph for a free AAC wall-system estimate.