Pangasinan as mega economic zone Ok’d

• Source: http://punch.dagupan.com/articles/news/2017/11/pangasinan-as-mega-economic-zone-okd/
• Monday, November 13, 2017

By Leonardo Micua With report from CIO (Sunday Punch)

$ 390-M INVESTMENTS

AT least $390 million dollars will be invested for the creation of a mega-economic zone in the province, which is a 30-year program that will initially benefit 10 municipalities including Dagupan to be undertaken by a consortium of big foreign companies from China, Singapore and Taiwan.

This was announced by Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Charito B. Plaza during the opening program of the 2017 Luzon Economic Zone Summit for Pangasinan and La Union held at CSI Stadia on November 8.

The mega economic zone in Pangasinan will cover 1,000 hectares in 10 towns of the province with Dagupan City as nucleus.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA has considered Dagupan City as a Sub-Regional Growth Center along with the cities of Alaminos, Urdaneta and Vigan.

The program includes the creation of an international seaport and airport and a different types of eco-zone where there will be a tourism zone, IT parks, medical tourism, manufacturing, aquamarine economic zone, and agro-industrial economic zone, among others.

Dagupan City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez in welcoming the officials said, “We are ready to take part and to make history, and we are ready to be part of this great opportunity”.

Asked by newsmen why Dagupan City is included in the proposed mega economic zone, Plaza said Dagupan is centrally located in Northern Luzon, and Mayor Fernandez is “persistent in her desire to pursue the dreams she has for her city and people”.

Dagupan is also very ideal for IT as haven for call centers and BPOs that will provide thousands of jobs to local graduates, she added.

She added, Dagupan being the educational center in the north with the presence of big universities and colleges here, education, science technology and innovation can become part of program for the city.

Plaza said Sitel Philippines, an American-owned company, is now discussing with her office so that it can branch out to Dagupan City next year.

USATV has sought endorsement from the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Dagupan to build the first IT center in Dagupan where investors can occupy.

Meanwhile, Plaza cited the efforts of Special Envoy Jose De Venecia Jr., in inviting investors from China to consolidate big Chinese industries for relocation to Pangasinan eco zones.

De Venecia, she added, is convincing his friend, the CEO of Xian Long Company in China, which owns big hotels, three big malls and in petrochemical that supplies 20 percent of the needs of the China, to spearhead the establishment of the mega economic zone in Pangasinan.

Among the guests were Baguio City Economic Zone Administrator lawyer Rene Joey S. Mipa, 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo N. Bataoil, Sual Mayor Roberto Arcinue and Pozorrubio Mayor Ernesto Go.

The summit coincided with the inauguration of the 1st PEZA Regional Business and Investment Center for Luzon office temporaarily at the CSI Stadia in Barangay Lucao. It will be housed permanently at the new government center once completed.

Plaza commended Fernandez for her advocacy and dream to provide jobs for her constituents and for working hard to make the city a part of the mega-economic zone that will soon rise in the province.