MANILA — Senator Joel Villanueva said the province of Bulacan is all geared up to become a strategic economic hub in the country with its diverse economy, skilled workforce, and faster access to free ports in Subic and Bataan.
There are 31 food security projects worth about PHP18.7 billion granted Green Lane certifications by the BOI that are estimated to create 7,000 jobs.
The Green Lane was established through an executive order to streamline, expedite, and automate government approval and registration processes for strategic investments.
Villanueva said the projects include modern breeder farms, a coconut processing facility, and a cold storage facility that can be set up in Bulacan.
“Bulacan is a natural extension of Metro Manila going to the north. The rails are coming, the airport is being constructed, more roads are being built. Development has nowhere to go but Bulacan,” he described his home province.
Villanueva raised the potential of the province hosting some of the food security projects approved by the Board of Investments as of end-June this year.
Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that in 2023, Bulacan has the fourth largest economy outside Metro Manila in terms of share to the national gross domestic product, contributing P631.64 billion.
The Central Luzon (CL) Region is the largest producer of rice and livestock in the country. Palay production of Bulacan alone reached 387,699 metric tons in 2021, fourth in the CL Region, based on the 2022 CL Regional Social and Economic Trend. Meanwhile, Bulacan’s hog production is also third in the region in 2021 at 21,597 heads.
The province can benefit from more cold storage facilities for aquaculture products for domestic consumption and export of prawn, crabs and milkfish. Bulacan is also known for processing gold into jewelry.
Villanueva said the Bulacan local government should continue to prepare for the upsurge of investments by upskilling workers and priming businesses for a more competitive landscape.
“All hands should be on deck, from the local government, to the academe, the business sector, and other stakeholders. We want to show we are ready for every opportunity,” Villanueva said.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. established the Green Lane through Executive Order 18 on Feb. 23, 2023 to streamline, expedite, and automate government approval and registration processes for strategic investments. (UnliNews Online)
