Airport in Bataan eyed to spur economic growth

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – A Bataan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member the other day asked the national government to construct a commercial airport in Mariveles as foreign and local investors are scrupulously evaluating the big potential of the northern Bataan town as an emerging industrial hub in Central Luzon for energy production.

Board member Jose Villapando,Jr., SP chair of Transportation committee, explained that the conversion  of the former American air base  before the World War II located in two adjacent  Barangays of Lucanin and Batangas 2, to a commercial airport would further  spur development of the province.

He said about 1,000 hectares of the  two upland villages  are suitable for a commercial airport for import and export use of  three (3) strategically located ecozones  in Mariveles and Limay towns.

Villapando, a former  staff member of a brokerage firm, said the proposed airport is expected to lead to better and more efficient connectivity and translate to more productive and favorable competitive markets and services.

According to Villapandao, numerous manufacturing and commercial enterprises from Asian and European countries are enthusiastic on pursuing projects in the country’s first export processing zone.

He added that business prospects remained healthy with affordable and reliable power supply and availability of skilled manpower in the locality. With the newest green energy and coal plant projects scheduled to be put up this year, Villapando said this indicates sustained confidence in the local economy and unwavering support of political leadership to ecological and industrial progress.