MANILA, March 16 -- The Philippines is eyeing to launch the pharmaceutical-medical device (pharma-dev) economic zones within 2024, with four locations across the country already under consideration.

At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga said PEZA is now in the site selection stage.

"So, nasa site selection kami, establishment ng criteria. Mayroon sa Laguna, mayroon Bulacan, mayroon Tarlac, mayroon din sa Cebu (We're now in site selection, establishment of criteria. There's Laguna, Bulacan, Tarlac, and Cebu)," he said.

In a separate interview, Panga said PEZA is classifying this initiative as "urgent" in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s proposal to...