Bayambang mulls export economic zone

BAYAMBANG - An export economic zone and more trade investments are being mulled in this Central Pangasinan town, as foreign investors signified interest to invest here

Mayor Cezar Quiambao, an entrepreneur himself, said one of his priorities is the upliftment of people from poverty through education and trade investments.

Bayambang, he said is just two hours away from the nearest port and three hours away from Manila, making it easier to transact business and trade.

“There is a need to establish an export economic zone but we have to master plan it. It is important that we convince locators to establish several industries for export, and then  we market them. More businesses will  mean more jobs for the people,” Quiambao said in an interview.

During his installation as the new chief executive of Bayambang, at least four foreign investors signed a Memorandum of Understanding  to invest in Bayambang. The signatories who attended were: Mr. Ramchand Karunakaran, chief executive officer of the infrastructure and transport group of the Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services, Ltd.; Mr. Lim Kok Hin, president and CEO of Canon Marketing Philippines; Mr. Eugen Tjong, head of ID Pacific Limited from London, United Kingdom; and Mr. Peter Sgro, chairman of the Guam Economic Council.

“ My fellow Bayambanguenos, never again shall you be poor because you have the capacity to prosper... Let us focus on aspirations that unite us, not on issues that divide us,” Quiambao said during his inaugural speech

For his education endeavour, Quiambao said he has also forged  partnership with the Polytechnic University to open two formal classes in a month for Bayambanguenos through its Open University System.

For his anti- corruption and anti-criminality programs, the municipal government plans to install CCTV cameras in strategic locations and establish an incident command system which can be accessed through emergency number 9111. Eight more police community precincts will soon rise in the town, he added.

The mayor has  created six more departments in the municipality to wit: Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Tourism, Internal Audit, Public Order and Safety Office (POSO),  Management Information System (MIS),  and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) office, in addition to the existing departments.(VHS/PIA-Pangasinan)