Industrial park in Pangasinan buoys hopes of jobs recovery

RAVISHED by the Covid-19 pandemic, Pangasinenses and other residents of Northern Luzon could expect to see brighter days as the North Luzon Aero Industrial Park (NAIP) will soon rise in Binalonan, Pangasinan. Groundbreaking for the 26-hectare industrial park is set on September 16.

Projected to generate over 10,000 jobs, NAIP addresses the employment setback caused by the ongoing public health crisis.

The Ilocos region, to which Pangasinan belongs, is one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. Unemployment rates in the region spiked as over 22,300 lost their jobs by April. In July, 11,100 remain unemployed, actually the fourth highest among the 17 administrative regions in the country.

The NAIP is expected to fill the employment void in the region, primarily in Binalonan and the rest of the towns of Pangasinan, as it will prioritize the employment of local residents of the municipality and province.

“The project brings a positive impact on the economy by the generation of employment opportunities. Priority for employment will be given to qualified local residents. Further, we are also committed to train and develop the skills of the employees to acceptable levels of expertise by providing programs which would enhance their skills,” Attorney Miguel Fernandez, president of the NAIP said.

Ecozones as economic drivers ACCORDING to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza), economic zones, such as the NAIP, are potential economic drivers as the country recovers from the pandemic.

“Creation of public ecozone apt to the area benefits host LGUS [local government units] in terms of industrialization, transfer of technology, land development, creation of jobs which in turn had a multiplier effect in the area,” Peza chief Charito Plaza said, citing the cases of Cavite, Baguio and Lapu-lapu cities, whose growth is attributed to the establishment of ecozones.

The rising Special Economic Zone is projected to house businesses in the information technology, business-process outsourcing (BPO) and aviation industries. These industries are strategic to the location of the industrial park, according to Fernandez.

“Binalonan is ripe for development. It’s in the crossroads of many towns.

It can be the gateway to the North. Strategically, it has its advantages as the Binalonan Airfield is also within the vicinity of the NAIP,” Fernandez said.

“The NAIP may also serve as a model project for the government who has already made the necessary and important pivot to develop our provinces in the countryside,” Fernandez added, referring to the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pagasa being implemented by the government to decongest overpopulated urban centers.

The industrial park is currently being developed by the NAIP. Several government entities, such as the local government of Binalonan, Peza, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Department of Trade and Industry are involved in the development.

Furthermore, businesses of the Sumi-north Wiring Systems Corp., a domestic subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo Electric Industries Inc., are expected to be housed in the industrial park.

The project is expected to be worth over P304 million. The industrial park is expected to commence operation in May 2021.