PH’s first quartz production facility sets up shop in Alviera Pampanga
PORAC— Central Luzon has emerged to become one of the Philippines’ most vibrant growth epicenter. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the region has transformed into a dynamic agro-industrial corridor supported by booming infrastructure investment.
In 2020 alone, Central Luzon was one of the top investment destinations in the Philippines, accounting for P576 billion or 56.5 percent of all investments made in the country. This influx of investments can also be attributed to “the implementation of infrastructure projects that has the potential to raise property values, create business opportunities and boost the attractiveness of integrated communities outside the capital region,” according to a January report released by Colliers.
Recognizing Central Luzon’s potential as a growth powerhouse, Ayala Land, Inc., together with partner Leonio Land Holdings Inc., has been developing Alviera - a 1,800-hectare master-planned estate in Pampanga which houses, among others, economic zones that offer its locators economic incentives, tax holidays, tax exemptions, and a wide range of support amenities.
Badan Building Materials Corporation (Badan), found the best location to set up their Philippine facility, and the country’s first quartz production facility— within Alviera’s PEZA-accredited industrial park.
Badan, a professional manufacturer of quartz stone and countertop products, established its facility within the Alviera Industrial Park in 2019. As one of the first “move-ins” in the Alviera Industrial Park, Badan’s decision to locate in Pampanga was greatly influenced by its strategic location at the heart of Central Luzon— with its proximity to major transport and infrastructure hubs such as the Subic Bay Freeport, the Clark International Airport and the North to South Expressways.
“We considered the location for the logistic service, since we are exporting to the US, we need to look for a location near the port. Porac is also near Angeles and San Fernando and we believe the location is the best for our needs,” shared Spark Lin, Badan’s Chief Operating Of f i cer.
On top of its strategic location, Pampanga is home to a pool of skilled workers, which is essential for a manufacturing company like Badan. To date, the company has 240 workers and looks forward to hiring more as operations scale up.
Apart from these factors, there is an edge that comes with operating within a masterplanned estate like Alviera, especially in the new normal.
For Badan, this guarantees access to support infrastructure and business essentials that can spell a major difference for the success of a business. “From the moment we joined the estate, Alviera always provided
us the best support for our buildings, certificates, and all other needs,” Lin said. Despite limited mobility and quarantine restrictions, Badan’s COO shared that they were also able to adapt their operations with Alviera’s support. “We are doing well in our operations. We understand the limited mobility and public health protocols are for everyone’s good. The good telecommunications infrastructure has allowed us to discover the ability of work from home, allowing us to make better use of our manpower.”
With the support it is getting, Badan looks forward to expanding its operations when the economic outlook improves.
“We would expect to keep expanding in the near future in Central Luzon since the location here is good for the supply chain of both Subic and Manila port. The population and resources of Central Luzon are also becoming stronger and growing, so we do believe in the future of Central Luzon,” Lin said.
With Central Luzon’s growth fundamentals firmly in place, reinforced by a business environment that is conducive to economic activity, there is no doubt that the region will help propel the Philippines’eventual recovery and growth. (PR)