Road expansion attracts more investments in Bataan

BALANGA CITY, Bataan-  Metro Bataan Development Authority (MBDA) Chairman Charlie Pizarro unveiled the proposed road network upgrading plan of Governor Albert Raymond S. Garcia to transform into  a six lane highway  the existing Roman Highway to hasten the delivery of goods and services to the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), the fastest growing investment hub in Central Luzon, and other industrial and manufacturing firms operating in the two Southern Bataan towns of Mariveles and Limay.

The unprecedented economic boom is an indication of the emerging role of Bataan which is strategically situated in the country’s growth triad corridor of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Clark Special Economic Zone and Metro Manila and the improvement of the province’s most important thoroughfare is a breakthrough toward complying the economic framework schemes of Governor Garcia, other local government officials and multi-sectoral groups, Pizarro explained.

According to Pizarro, a former three-termer mayor of Pilar town, Governor Garcia has given instructions to scale-up and prioritize the development of infrastructure projects leading to economic and industrial zones and tourism destinations that would provide a solid impact on the socio-economic growth of the province.

He stressed that the Governor has placed a premium on the enhancement of the infrastructure facilities to possibly bring about faster, safer, more convenient and efficient transport of people and products in and out of Bataan.

Pizarro said a research survey team showed more than 500 motorized vehicles, most of which are cargo trucks, oil tankers, private vans and cars, buses and other transport vehicles utilize daily the stretch of Roman Highway on their way to more than 70 locators at AFAB, Petron refinery, oil depots, historical tourist spots and other industrial firms .

He added the current collated data is 300% more than the registered number of motorized road users compared to the list three years ago.

Bataan is host to more hundreds  of industries and companies that produce diverse products such as petroleum, petrochemicals, plastics, fiberglass, sportswear, soya oil, tennis balls, fashionable bags, ammunition and other highly-exportable products.