Hermosa mayor eyes new economic zone

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Hermosa Mayor Antonio Joseph R. Inton is eyeing some 300 hectares of the hilly sections of the upland villages of Mabuco and Tipo, to be converted into another  industrial zone in Northern Bataan.

The proposed new Hermosa Economic Zone is located near the huge complex of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) which is still under negotiation with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) for the completion of numerous feasible business requirements like the site development scheme for infrastructure, power and water supply, communication, buildings and other necessary structures in facilitating transport of raw materials and finished products to intended markets, Mayor Inton said.

Hermosa has an existing economic zone located in Barangay Palihan, with two Japanese and Taiwanese manufacturing firms producing car parts for exports and employing more than 10,000 factory workers.

Mayor Inton said other locators from the Middle East Countries are projected to invest greatly in this fast emerging zone in Hermosa to take advantage of the improving economy of ASEAN markets with the Philippines as the regional agricultural and industrial hub.

The Middle Eastern investors are reportedly inclined to build a facility for processing and export of halal poultry products and agriculturally-produced organic vegetable and fruit crops for export to Arabian countries.

The Mayor expects the significant growth would make the town a conducive agro-industrial production hub leading to burgeoning of prospects for local and foreign locators to the growing potential of the town.

He mentioned the favorable geographical location of Hermosa town as the principal gateway to the country’s largest economic zone, SBMA, and Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), the fast growing investment center in Central Luzon, availability of professional and technical manpower, stable power and communication facilities, peaceful business ambience are some of the advantages of the Northern Bataan town to draw locators.