THE Bacolod-Silay Ecozone and Technopark, a 38-hectare land beside the airport at Barangay Bagtic in Silay City, is now registered as a special economic zone (ecozone) under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).
This is provided under Proclamation No. 315 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte on September 14, pursuant to Republic Act No. 7916, or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995.
Peza director-general Charito Plaza and Golden Dragon Agri-Aqua Corporation president Eric Hernaez Wednesday, October 25, signed the registration agreement for the said project at the Peza office in Taguig City.
It was witnessed by Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, executive director of the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT), and consultants Porferio Montesclaros and Ted Segura.
The registration agreement is a requirement for the operation to start, Batapa-Sigue said, adding that the Bacolod-Silay Ecozone and Technopark will add to the existing 19 economic zones presidentially proclaimed in Bacolod City, and the first mixed-use zone in the province.
“The ecozone will now allow the province to attract various types of locators from the information technology, manufacturing, tourism, agro-industrial, retirement villages, and other industries,” the BNEFIT official said.
Montesclaros, also a trustee of the Mactan Export Processing Zone Chamber of Exporters and Manufacturers, in a press statement, said the development will further spread the economic boom of Silay City and Negros Occidental.
To make this happen, Montescarlos said he is counting on the collaboration between the government and private sector.
Plaza thanked Hernaez for registering with Peza. She then encouraged the latter to work hard in attracting investors to create jobs in the countryside, the press statement added.
Roberto Montelibano, chairman of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had earlier said the ecozone is seen to bring big investments and boost employment in the province.
Montelibano said they initiated the talks with the landowner for the establishment of a 38-hectare industrial zone which will cater to investors from Cebu. The chamber also tapped the help of consultants from there.
Some export processing companies operating in Cebu have considered expanding their businesses in the province,” he said, adding that “what we are targeting through this ecozone project is really creation of job opportunities.”
