GUANGXI – Banking on their strategic locations, San Fernando City in La Union and
the Clark Freeport Zone (CFZ) both placed their best foot forward in a bid to
attract the attention of investors from China and other member-states of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
San Fernando City and the CFZ
were both chosen as the “Cities of Charm” from the Philippines in the 9th
China-ASEAN four-day Expo that began on Sept. 21 in the city of Nanning.
San Fernando Mayor Pablo Ortega
informed investor prospects in the “Investment Seminar-Business Opportunities
in the Philippines” held at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition
Center (NICEC) on Saturday that their city’s location would suit the needs of
investors and visiting tourists.
He said San Fernando is regarded
as the “gateway to the North” and the “prime capital city of Ilocandia.”
San Fernando in La Union is the
home of the Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ) that can be easily accessed via
land, air and sea. San Fernando’s seaport is already classified as
“international” since it has been accommodating cruise ships, cargo vessels and
barges in its pier.
The international seaport of PPFZ
has a total land area of 30 hectares and with a possible reclamation area of
over 100 hectares. It has three pier structures, six warehouses and open
storage areas that are ideal for various types of cargo.
Ortega offered the city to the
business community here.
“This is what we offer, fast
emerging of development is the Poro Point Freeport Zone wherein a sizeable
portion is surrounded by the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
He added San Fernando is blessed
to be located 270 kilometers northwest of Metro Manila. From La Union, visitors
could also access other tourist destinations of nearby provinces including
Baguio, Vigan in Ilocos Sur, Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan.
San Fernando City Councilor
Joseph de Guzman said their efforts to promote tourism have been paying off
because compared to three years ago, there has been about a 50-percent increase
in the number of tourists.
“There are already a lot of
Koreans in the city. There are also several Chinese businessmen who own small
businesses,” he said.
One of the city’s biggest and
latest attractions is the Thunderbird Resort that has a casino.
Among the time tested tourist
attractions in San Fernando City are the 20-hectare botanical garden, the
Ma-cho Temple, and the 25-foot statue of Christ the Redeemer at the Reservoir
Hill.
As for the CFZ, Clark Freeport
Philippines-marketing department manager Rafael Galvez was thankful for the
opportunity to promote the free port, and hoped to catch the attention of more
foreign investors from China and the ASEAN countries.
“We are mainly trying to attract
more people from the BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), electronic sector and
ICT (Information and Communications Technology) industry and the manufacturing
sector. Also we are looking at companies that are aviation related, those
aviation dependent and companies that are open to logistics,” Galvez said.
He believed that once businessmen
have heard of their proposals and seen the potential of the CFZ, they would
seriously consider entrusting them with their businesses.
“We are also offering to foster
better relationship within the ASEAN region. Clark has so much to offer... and
even on the side of tourism. (There are) more lots in Clark and property that
are available for expansion projects from companies who are looking for a place
that are ideal. Clark for example has an international airport, it has tourism
activity and it has an industrial park. So it is basically a place where
nature, leisure and business intertwine,” he said.
They are also eyeing the supplier
chain of the current business establishments in the Freeport zone.
Galvez added that apart from the
incentive plans that they would be offering to incoming investors, Clark’s
workforce is friendly and skilled. Communication is also not a problem since
almost all Filipinos speak English well.
The CFZ is also accessible to
tourists through the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).
“Notwithstanding competing with
(other) provinces but Clark has more international flights now compared to Cebu
flying from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Korea. We already
have daily direct flights to Korea,” he added.
They are also hoping to
reestablish travel ties with China. Galvez added, “Hopefully, there would be
direct flights” to and from China and Clark.
“There were direct flights before
to China. We are trying to strengthen that relationship once more,” he said.
Places featured in previous
CA-EXPO “Cities of Charm” include Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Manila, Laoag, Subic
Bay, Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga City, and Puerto Princesa.
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