[ Manila Bulletin Online ] July 1, 2008
By FRED ROXAS
Locators in park will be limited to light, non-polluting industries
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Zambales – The provincial government of Zambales is set to open a 600-hectare Freeport industrial park which is envisioned to spur economic development in the province.
Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso said that property developer Imagine Realty Corp. had presented a plan to develop a vast, idle government property located in Redondo Peninsula, Barangay Cawag, Subic, as site for Freeport industrial park.
"Zambales will soon have its own Freeport industrial park which will be designed to create more jobs and alleviate poverty in the province," Deloso said.
He said that the land-use plan would be focused on "sustainable development" as the proposed "mix use" of the industrial park would be limited to light and non-polluting industries such as electronic and garment factories, research and IT training hub, and call centers.
"The province will not allow heavy or polluting industries in the area," Deloso said.
Deloso said that Subic town, being a contiguous community of Subic Freeport, has already been declared as part of the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone through Republic Act 7227, otherwise known as the Bases Conversion Law.
He said that like Subic Freeport, the Zambales industrial park will be developed into a self-sustaining, industrial, commercial, financial and investment hub.
Imagine Realty Corporation president Roberto Aventajado said that there is good potential of developing the property into a Freeport industrial park with complementary seaport and other infrastructure facilities.
Aventajado, who is chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee, has been involved in marketing Subic and Clark as haven for foreign and local investments.
"Our company is currently in alliance with international investors that can pursue full development of the Zambales Industrial Park," Aventajado said.
He also said that the company would shoulder the cost for the conduct of a more detailed study and evaluation of the development potential of the Zambales industrial park. The study and evaluation are expected to be completed in 30 days, he said.
"Our proposal would be mutually beneficial, especially for a more progressive economic development of Zambales province," he said.
Aventajado also said that under the plan, the Zambales Industrial Park would be built near its other project, the 500hectare Neocove resort, which is scheduled to break ground in October.
He said that Neocove will be developed by consortium of South Korean investors with committed investments of $ 250 million in a world-class golf course and resort.
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