Territorial disputes aside, Iloilo eyes Chinese investments

ILOILO – The country may be disputing territories with China in the South China Sea but here in Iloilo, the provincial government is eyeing Chinese investments to help develop a proposed industrial and economic zone.

Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said Chinese Consul General Song Ronghua was recently in Iloilo to discuss the possibility of attracting investors from China for a 50hectare economic zone in Dumangas and Concepcion municipalities.

According to Banias, Ronghua plans to organize an investment summit that will eye Chinese investors to Iloilo province.

Last September, the Iloilo Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) and the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILED) launched a formal campaign to attract investors for the proposed economic zone in Dumangas town. The town was selected for such project by the PPDO and ILED because the coastal town already has an existing port.

Dumangas Mayor Rolando Distura had proposed that his town be accorded economic zone status where a manufacturing industrial activity could be developed.

Banias said Ronghua’s October 13 visit to Iloilo province also included checking out the potential for establishing another economic zone in the northern Iloilo town of Concepcion.

Palm Concepcion Power Corp. (PCPC), an A Brown Company subsidiary, has hired Chinese contractors in building a 135-megawatt (MW) coalfired power in Concepcion town.

Accompanied by PCPC President Roel Castro, Ronghua met with some 400 Chinese workers currently employed for the first phase of construction work.