SILAY City Mayor Mark Golez said he is optimistic that the special economic zone (ecozone) in his city will significantly boost local economic activities.
Through Proclamation No. 315 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte on September 14, the Bacolod-Silay Ecozone and Technopark is now registered as special ecozone under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).
The proclamation is pursuant to Republic Act No. 7916, or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995.
The ecozone is a 38-hectare land near the Bacolod-Silay Airport at Barangay Bagtic.
Golez said that once locators start their businesses in the area, it will result to more employment opportunities for Silaynons.
“The skills level of our people will improve as they will be properly trained for specific industries,” the mayor said, adding that more employed constituents means less chances of committing offenses thereby stabilizing the peace and order situation of the city.
The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) earlier said the Bacolod-Silay Ecozone and Technopark will cater to investors from Cebu who considered expanding their businesses in the province.
The chamber, which initiated talks with the landowner, also tapped the help of consultants from the Central Visayas province.
The ecozone is intended mainly as export processing zone for light manufacturing, it added.
Golez said the development is also seen to boost the city's income giving it better chances to upgrade from a third class to a second class city.
“It will also open new opportunities for the city in terms of tourism, education and related fields,” he added.
On Wednesday, Peza Director-General Charito Plaza and Golden Dragon Agri-Aqua Corporation president Eric Hernaez signed the registration agreement for the said project at the Peza office in Taguig City.
Plaza, in a press statement, thanked Hernaez for registering the project with Peza.
She then encouraged the firm to work hard in attracting investors to create jobs in the countryside.