38-hectare industrial zone in Silay open to investors

THE Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) said the 38-hectare industrial zone in Silay City, mainly for light manufacturing, is open to interested investors.

The site located at Barangay Bagtic near the airport was registered as a special economic zone (ecozone) under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) last September.

Roberto Montelibano, president of MBCCI, said the development of this industrial zone will start early next year.

He said they are now waiting for the final valuation of the property, which formerly belonged to one of the chamber members, Rolando Arnaiz.

“Anyone who might be willing to invest there is welcome,” Montelibano said, adding that they are also finalizing the development plan for the ecozone named Bacolod-Silay Ecozone and Technopark.

The Peza registration of the industrial zone was provided under Proclamation No. 315 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte on September 14, 2017 pursuant to Republic Act No. 7916, or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995.

It was added to the existing 19 economic zones presidentially proclaimed in Bacolod City, and became the first mixed-use zone in the province.

The local business group is planning to bring in various investors to the ecozone. There is already a 20-hectare request made by a small steel mill, Montelibano said.

He added that the industrial zone, located in northern Negros, will mainly cater to investors in light manufacturing industry, as he pointed out that the province will have a site for heavy industry in the south, particularly in Hinoba-an town.

“The development of heavy industry in the south will accelerate also by the first quarter of 2018. The governor during our meeting recently said the Japanese investors will start coming in early next year,” Montelibano said.

The development in Silay is similar to that in Mactan, Cebu which caters to light and medium industries, he said.

The group is upbeat that the ecozone will boost the local economy mainly through creation of more job opportunities for Negrenses, Montelibano added.