CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—A study by the Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD) is proposing the establishment of new industrial estates in two Pampanga towns that will cater to prominent Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese investors.
SCAD Chairman Roberto V. Garcia, who recently presented the study to the Pampanga provincial board, led by Vice Gov. Dennis G. Pineda, said, “We need to establish new industrial estates in Porac and Floridablanca towns,” because of the lack of “huge” leasable lands at the Clark Freeport Zone and Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The same study said Subic has 80 hectares left for lease, while Clark has 34 hectares.
Garcia is also chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). Porac and nearby Floridablanca are two of Pampanga’s biggest towns in terms of land area and are accessible via the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).
Both towns are between Clark and Subic. Garcia said, “we are taking advantage of the interests of the three Asean countries” to relocate to Clark and Subic via the proposed industrial hubs in Pampanga. The proposed hubs will be “exclusive ecozone per country,” the study cited. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are looking for industrial hubs with 100 hectares of land each, Garcia said.
Most of the foreign investors want to leave China and transfer their manufacturing plants to the Philippines, he added.
“We are here in Pampanga to inform the top officials of the province and the board members and coordinate with them,” Garcia said.
The vice governor, whose hometown of Lubao, shares its border with Floridablanca, said “Pampanga should be ready for more investors, especially those who will bring in multibillion-peso investments and provide more employment for local residents.”
Third District Board Member Rosve Henson, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said “the SCAD’s presentation is most welcome, but we have to make sure that what’s due for Pampanga government and its people will be given in accordance to our laws, should this plan be approved.”
He said “the proposal of SCAD will be carefully studied by the Provincial Board and Pampanga Gov. Lilia G. Pineda and local officials of the concerned towns.”
Pineda and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Second District of Pampanga, whose jurisdiction includes Porac and Floridablanca, are pushing for a master development plan for Pampanga. They want to tap urban planner and architect Felino Palafox. Arroyo recently visited Barangay Pulung Santol, Porac, headed by Rey Gamboa. She was working on the improvement of the roads and other infrastructure in the first-class town headed by Mayor Condralito de la Cruz.
Board Member Fritzie David-Dizon and her brother, Porac Vice Mayor Dexter Albert David, said “this plan to bring in more foreign investments in our hometown will be beneficial to present and future generations.”
David said he, de la Cruz and the members of the town council are aggressively educating students through the Don Honorio Ventura Technical State University-Porac and the Porac Manpower Training Center.
Rene Romero of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce (PanCham) and Industry, who is reportedly incoming board of director of the Clark Development Corp., said it has been their call to establish the corridor linking Clark and Subic, including areas of Porac and Floridablanca. Garcia is reportedly set to present the study to the PamCham late this week.
“But I hope President Duterte will empower the SCAD more to effectively implement its mission to spur growth in the areas,” he said.
Garcia said the presentation-study was made in the wake of the new investments of about P100 billion at the SMBA in just the first seven months of 2016. It recorded one of the biggest half-year investment turnouts for this free port since its establishment in 1992.