TOWNS Awardees

Lilia was elected to the 1971 Constitutional Convention and later pursued her career in government service. As Chairman and Director General of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), she instituted reforms and her unique service brand: “No red tape, No corruption” and “One-Stop, Non- Stop Shop” gained investors’ confidence worldwide. At her retirement, PEZA had generated over P3.2 Trillion investments; created over 6 million jobs from 3,800 export companies located in 343 PEZA Zones countrywide. She is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and has received numerous accolades including Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun Gold and Silver Star, the highest award to a non-head of state.