(The Philippine Star) | Updated January 31,
2015 - 12:00am
All for One, One for All: Calamba
Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco (left) and Rep. Jun Joaquin Chipeco (2nd from left)
join top executives of Greenfield Development Corp. led by Jeffrey Campos
(center) in a show of support during the inauguration of the Calamba Regional
Government Center. Others in photo are (from left) John Michael Tan and Duane Santos.
MANILA, Philippines - Equus City, a
25-hectare commercial hub in Calamba, Laguna being developed by Greenfield
Development Corp., got off to a good start this year with the recent
inauguration of a “one-stop shop” government center located in the area.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas led the inauguration of the
new building and personally witnessed the signing of a joint venture agreement
between Greenfield and the Calamba City government represented by Mayor Justin
Marc Chipeco together with his father, Rep. Joaquin “Jun” Chipeco.
Called the Calabarzon Regional
Government Center (CRGC), the new building was built through a public-private
partnership (PPP) program with the Calamba City government, AlloyMtd
Philippines and Greenfield. It is envisioned to solve the issue of government
agencies in Region IV-A being scattered in different locations thus making
public service inconvenient, difficult and costly for those transacting
business with the government. Upon completion, the CRGC will also enable
different regional government branches in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas,
Rizal and Quezon) to be located in just one, easily accessible place.
Located at Barangay Mapagong, Calamba
City in Laguna, the P2.5-billion facility is a first-of-its-kind development in
the entire country, and was practically made possible with the help of
Greenfield which donated a prime lot located near the South Luzon Expressway
(SLEx) in Calamba City, Laguna.
Jeffrey D.Y. Campos, president and
chairman of Greenfield, said his company is proud to have been a part of the
development. “This development is the fulfillment of a life-long dream of our
founder, Jose Y. Campos, who has always been supportive of government endeavors
in Laguna in the past. His vision has always been to make life easier for
people, especially those living in the southern part of Manila. The CRGC will
enable government offices to service more Filipinos coming from Calabarzon
(Region IV-A) area more efficiently, so we’re happy to be a part of this
development.”
For his part, Roxas lauded the opening
of the regional government hub saying: “Government agencies have been renting
office buildings since time immemorial, and we want to change that (practice)
with this new hub. I’d like to thank
Greenfield for their land donation. The new facility will serve as a symbol of
the Philippines’ future – having a modern government facility is one of the
best measures of success of a country.”
Inspired by Malaysia’s federal
administrative center, Putrajaya, the six-story government center aims to house
more than 20 regional government offices in one location. Although still
lacking some fixtures and power and communication lines, at least two
government agencies — the DILG and the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA) — have already signed lease contracts to hold office in the
facility. Space in the facility is being leased for P450 per square meter per
month.
Aside from the DILG, other government
offices are also expected to move in soon. These include those of the
Department of Tourism, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Pag-Ibig Fund
and Land Bank of the Philippines.
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