Taiwanese group to build Subic science park

STATE-RUN Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said it is finalizing an agreement involving the establishment of a science park in the Freeport by the Century Development Corp. of Taiwan.

Armand C. Arreza, SBMA administrator, told reporters the agency and the Taiwanese company, which is a member of the TECO Group, are wrapping up talks on the development of a 20-hectare science park inside the Freeport.

“The idea is to invite Taiwanese companies to come in and make use of the local talent in software development and computer programming,” Arreza said.

Under the agreement, the Taiwanese company will develop the land into a science park, while the SBMA will provide the land.

Arreza said the park will attract research and development and business process outsourcing (BPO) companies like call centers.

He said that the Taiwanese company had developed Nankang Park, which is Taiwan’s version of a science park.

“There is no exact amount of investment yet,” Arreza said, adding the parties are still in the process of designing the park.

SBMA expects no vacancies since the Taiwanese company had guaranteed locators to set up shop in the soon-to-be-built park.

Arreza said that SBMA has shifted from attracting low-cost manufacturing to high-end, high value and highly skilled operations such as information technology.

“The science park will be much similar to the Cyber Park in Eastwood, Libis in Quezon City, where IT hubs, BPOs and commercial establishments co-exist in one location,” he said.
--Katrina Mennen A. Valdez - Manila Times