The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) expects major investments in Sarangani province.
Tereso Panga, PEZA director-general, in a text message on Thursday identified these as a steel project of Chinese firm Panhua Integrated Steel Inc., the expansion of the ecozone investments of the Alsons Group and the planned aerotropolis zone in the province.
Panga declined to disclose the details of the Panhua project pending the application of the company.
But documents from the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Investment and Economic Affairs showed on Thursday the potential Chinese investment amounts to $1 billion in Sarangani. The document showed the project is expected to generate 10,000 jobs.
Panga also said the Alsons Group is eyeing 100 hectares in General Santos for an eco one project for an undisclosed amount.
The Alsons Group will apply for PEZA registration this year, he added.
Panga said PEZA is also negotiating for areas from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and General Santos Airport for a planned aerotropolis zone, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) sealed in February 2022.
In a Feb. 3, 2022 report of Malaya Business Insight said the MOU serves as the initial commitment for the establishment of aerotropolis ecozones and/or aerotropolis-linked ecozones which will use CAAP’s idle real estate assets throughout the country.
A document shared by PEZA on Thursday showed the proposed ecozone will be within the land-side area of the General Santos City Airport. The document also showed the US Agency for International Development, through the Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity project, formulated a conceptual plan for an aviation and logistics commercial hub in the airport that covers an area of 200 hectares within the 600-hectare complex.
