Eco-urban plan for Subic Freeport bared
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) unveiled last Tuesday its long- term goal of establishing in the Subic Bay area a First World eco-urban center that would also boost efforts to develop municipalities surrounding this freeport.
In his state-of-the-freeport address (SOFA) at the Subic Bay Arts Center here, SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said the SBMA envisions a unique eco-urban development that could serve as a regional city of Southeast Asia.
"This is the challenge for the future," Arreza told stakeholders here. "Our big long-term goal would be to transform the greater Subic Bay area into a First World eco-urban center in 20 years."
Arreza, who reported on the agency’s plans after SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga bared accomplishments in the past year, said the eco-urban project will incorporate significant investment, financial and business opportunities, and allow the convergence of developments in logistics, commercial, leisure, educational, and medical industries.
"It would also complement Clark Freeport in our common posturing as the new catalyst of growth in the Mega Luzon area," he said.
Under the plan, the SBMA identified various development modules for government and private funding. These include commercial areas in downtown Olongapo and Subic’s Gateway District; integrated resorts in Olongapo, Morong, Bataan and Subic, Zambales; industrial estates in Hermosa, Bataan and Castillejos, Zambales; and information technology (IT) parks at Tipo, also in Hermosa.
The plan also calls for development of an integrated port and logistics area; a medical city in Cubi; an education city; additional housing areas at the El Kabayo and Tipo; and a shipbuilding center in Redondo Peninsula.
Arreza said the vision for Subic’s eco-urban center is boosted by Executive Order No. 675 and the Subic- Clark-Tarlac Expressway Project (SCTEP), which is set to open next month.
"These are the two ‘enablers’ that would help us deliver on our vision," he stressed.
He said that E.O. 675, which extended Subic’s tax- and duty-free regime to other areas within the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone (SSEFZ) that may be identified, fenced, and secured by the SBMA, would address the problem of limited space in Subic.
SCTEP would have a "tremendous potential" because it would hasten the movement of goods and manpower in the area, he added.
Jonas Reyes - Manila Bulletin
In his state-of-the-freeport address (SOFA) at the Subic Bay Arts Center here, SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said the SBMA envisions a unique eco-urban development that could serve as a regional city of Southeast Asia.
"This is the challenge for the future," Arreza told stakeholders here. "Our big long-term goal would be to transform the greater Subic Bay area into a First World eco-urban center in 20 years."
Arreza, who reported on the agency’s plans after SBMA Chairman Feliciano Salonga bared accomplishments in the past year, said the eco-urban project will incorporate significant investment, financial and business opportunities, and allow the convergence of developments in logistics, commercial, leisure, educational, and medical industries.
"It would also complement Clark Freeport in our common posturing as the new catalyst of growth in the Mega Luzon area," he said.
Under the plan, the SBMA identified various development modules for government and private funding. These include commercial areas in downtown Olongapo and Subic’s Gateway District; integrated resorts in Olongapo, Morong, Bataan and Subic, Zambales; industrial estates in Hermosa, Bataan and Castillejos, Zambales; and information technology (IT) parks at Tipo, also in Hermosa.
The plan also calls for development of an integrated port and logistics area; a medical city in Cubi; an education city; additional housing areas at the El Kabayo and Tipo; and a shipbuilding center in Redondo Peninsula.
Arreza said the vision for Subic’s eco-urban center is boosted by Executive Order No. 675 and the Subic- Clark-Tarlac Expressway Project (SCTEP), which is set to open next month.
"These are the two ‘enablers’ that would help us deliver on our vision," he stressed.
He said that E.O. 675, which extended Subic’s tax- and duty-free regime to other areas within the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone (SSEFZ) that may be identified, fenced, and secured by the SBMA, would address the problem of limited space in Subic.
SCTEP would have a "tremendous potential" because it would hasten the movement of goods and manpower in the area, he added.
Jonas Reyes - Manila Bulletin
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
2:11 PM
1 Comments:
What about the "vision for the environment"? Do we have a long term plan regarding the pollution that this industrialization will bring? What about the olongapo infrastracture? will it be suffice to support the modernization of the metropolis? I mean its ok to have a grand vision for the betterment of Olongapo and the adjacent municipalities but we should also consider the impact on the environment. Look at Metro Manila, can we allow the same pollution they have to happen here in Olongapo and SBMA? The traffic congestions? The polluted river? The squatter problem? We should open our eyes and mind regarding this issue. A healthy community is a productive community.
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Anonymous, at 2/11/2008 6:37 AM
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