PEZA approves clearance for Davao South Marina and Industrial Park
DAVAO CITY — The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has released the pre-qualification clearance for the 1,000-hectare (ha) Davao South Marina and Industrial Park, located in Malita, Davao Occidental.
Department of Trade and Industry-Davao Occidental Provincial Director Eulogio C. Orevillo said the agency has received the official communication on the clearance from the Provincial Economic Enterprise and Investment Promotion Office.
“PEZA approved in March the pre-qualification clearance… which means that the PEZA registration of the park can now proceed,” Mr. Orevillo told Businessworld.
The Davao South Marina and Industrial Park, where the 600-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant of SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., a unit of San Miguel Corp., is located, will have leisure facilities, hotels, a marina and a yacht club as well as an industrial zone.
The park is designed for possible expansion from the initial 1,000 ha to 3,000 ha.
Mr. Orevillo said several companies have expressed interest to locate in the economic zone (ecozone), including those involved in shipbuilding and manufacturing.
“What makes the zone attractive to investors is the presence of the coal power plant to assure them of the supply of power, and the openness of the local government unit to welcome investors in Sta. Maria and Malita,” he said.
Malita is the capital of the newly-formed Davao Occidental while neighboring Sta. Maria is also being considered for an economic zone. Both municipalities are on the coast.
The province has programmed another ecozone, the Davao South Greenspace Eco-Industrial Park in a 450-ha area in Sta. Cruz, currently home to a San Miguel brewery, a Seaoil Philippines, Inc. oil storage facility, processing plants of agriculture firm Franklin Baker Co. of the Philippines, and part of the 300-MW coal-fired power plant of Therma South, Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp.
Municipal and provincial officials are currently working on the province’s investment code to attract locators. — Maya M. Padillo
