PROVINCIAL NEWS FEATURES

:: Nueva Ecija batting for Industrial Park

GAPAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – This City is the youngest among the province’s five component cities, is pushing for the establishment of an industrial park similar to those in Baguio City, Bataan, Subic Bay in Zambales Province, Tarlac City to solve its unemployment problems.

Mayor Ernesto Natividad, elected to a fresh three-year term, told The STAR that the city government is in the process of touring existing industrial parks preparatory to the establishment of a site ideal for light and medium support industries.

Natividad said the establishment of an industrial park would help out the city’s development on the fast track, increase investor interest and create employment opportunities to the local residents.

He said that roughly 10 percent of the city’s potential work force would land jobs in the industrial park being eyed by the city government.

Natividad said the city is an ideal site for investment because of its stable peace and order situation and infrastructure facilities, which provide a healthy climate for investments.

He said many investors are now setting up business in the city, including Walter Mart, which will soon establish a P500-million mall in Barangay Bayanihan.

But investment in Gapan has already begun with CVC Mart a mall owned by former Nueva Ecija Rep. Carlos Cabochan, which opened shop in December 2003.

There are many spin spin-off industries available that could generate jobs for the unemployed, Natividad said, referring to the proposed industrial park.

Based on studies, multinational and local companies operating inside the state-run economic zones and private-owned industrial estates have registered growth in export earnings over the past years.

City officials also hope the Gapan, the acknowledge footwear capital of the north, could harness its footwear industry in the planned industrial park.

Natividad said the construction of a new, P90-million city hall and a new hall of justice is now in full swing at 3.6-hectare lot in Barangay Bayanihan along the Maharlika Highway.

The city government plans to convert the existing city hall building into a modern hospital. (Source: Philippine Star Aug. 1, 2004)