Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) President Arturo Milan said the need to establish a larger economic zone that will cater to more investors, especially foreigners, is long overdue.
“We were caught in the trend where real estate prices have increased,” he said. “It would have been much earlier.”
But if it was pushed earlier, it’s too advance on its time.”
Milan has been very vocal on his call for the city government to push for the creation of economic zones since he retired from being the head of Davao Light and Power Co., Inc., and accepted his presidency in DCCCII in December 2017.
The DCCCII president acknowledged that the local government is exerting its effort in finding a secluded spot for the envisioned “ecozone” in the city.
“The city government is really trying. The problem is that the city government does not have a wide property. Well they have, but the least is 100 hectares,” Milan said.
As of now, the DCCCII, being the facilitator of the project, is currently under negotiation with some individual landowners and developers in locating the perfect spot for the proposed “ecozone”.
Although Milan is not allowed to disclose further any information, he mentioned that they are under negotiations with two property negotiators in the 2nd District of Davao.
“It’s because the airport and seaport is located there,” Milan’s answer on why they chose to have the ecozone to be located there.
He said that large “ecozones” must be near seaports and airports which will be suited for a smoother logistics.
Millan believes that having a larger economic zone in Davao will be a competing edge here in Mindanao.
As of October 31, 2017, the city has 14 PEZA-accredited areas – 1 manufacturing, 2 agro-industrial zones, and 11 information technology centers and IT parks.
The PEZA-accredited manufacturing area is the First Oriental Business and Industrial Park while the agro-industrial zones are AJMR Agro-Industrial Economic Zone and CIIF Agro-Industrial Park-Davao.
Aside from the NCCC Mall Davao’s IT Center on the fourth floor that was part of those razed down by fire last Dec. 23, the other IT Parks and centers are Luisa Avenue Square IT Center, Robinsons Cybergate Davao, Felcris Centrale, SM Lanang Premier IT Center, Abreeza Corporate Center, Ayala Business Center, Filandia IT Center, The Annex-SM City Davao IT Center, Damosa IT Park, and Matina IT Park.
