By Louella D. Desiderio
(The Philippine Star) | Updated August 24, 2013 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines -
Investments in the Clark Freeport Zone have reached $200 million as of end-July, the Clark Development Corp. (CDC)
said.
CDC president Arthur
Tugade said in a statement posted on the
state-run firm’s website that the investments were made for new and expansion projects in the freeport.
For the April to July
period, Tugade said that the CDC secured $31.42
million worth of investment commitments for eight major projects.
The eight major projects
involve groundbreaking and expansion work
from the following Clark-based locators: Aderans, Inc., Pishon
Corp., L&T International Group, MSK
Corp., Preferred and Proven Therapies,
Inc., Wind Tunnel International, Mt. Carmel Medical Center, and Stotsenberg Medical Center, Inc. The eight
projects are expected to create 8,928 jobs.
Tugade also said that
since December of last year, the CDC was able to revive projects from seven Clark-based
locators.
The CDC expects the
seven firms to pour in $175.14 million worth of
investments for the projects.
The revived projects
include development of an international sports
complex, hotels, resorts, wakeboarding and water theme parks, retirement estates, language institute, and
an air separation plant facility.
The projects are seen to
employ 5,172 workers.
At present, Clark’s
total employment tally is at 71,713. Earlier, the Bases Conversion and
Development Authority said the National
Economic and Development Authority’s Board Committee on Infrastructure has agreed to endorse the
Clark Green City Master Development Plan
to President Aquino.
The Clark Green City
Master Development Plan involves developing
36,000 hectares in the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone into
a new city half the size of Metro Manila
to become a more attractive location for
investments.
Apart from promoting
Clark as an investment destination, the project
would involve the adoption of a “Green” building system that would encourage certain practices and techniques as
well as the use of renewable energy in
all buildings and facilities in the area.
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