Dagupan Mayor Crows World-Class Features of New City

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – The mayor of this burgeoning city bares the “Guideline for the Development of the Local - Pantal Tourism and Growth Center (LPTGC)” as contained in the Zoning Ordinance for 2015 to 2025.

On its race to world class commercial and governmental landscapes, Mayor Belen T. Fernandez cited on the documents she presented that the LPTGC is developed into two major zones.

An artist perspective of a modern city. After the approval of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan

for the Growth Center in Lucao-Pantal Areas, skyscrapers like in this photo would be constructed
 by Ayala Project Estates, SM Properties, Megaworld Business Park, and others just like the
economic hubs in Iloilo City. Mayor Belen T. Fernandez told reporters during the Information
Technology - Business Process Management Summit that after the approval of growth center
 mammoth corporations on IT-BPM would be providing 5,000 direct jobs to the graduates of
  colleges and universities. PHOTO CREDIT. SMART CITY DAGUPAN CITY

“Zone 1 located in the Northern Site or more commonly known  as the Pantal Area and Zone 2, located on the Southern Area or more commonly known as the Lucao Area,” according to the already approved ordinance known as the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

The two zones will be linked by a Midway Zone with approximately 3.5 kilometers apart from the Zones.

“The Midway Zone shall be an activity mode in the middle these major zones. It is aimed to enliven the environment by hosting wholesome festivities, mini - concert and mini- play, among others,” the law says that was already sanctioned by the The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).

Mayor Fernandez said that Zone 1 Regulations (Pantal Area) will be known as the New Growth Business District with the following buildings, structures, development types, and city hall with adjacent government offices; activity grounds and space; retail shop connected through green and open spaces; riverside retail shop; mixed used offices that would be future development, institution buildings for future developments,; university campus; college buildings, hospitals and other;  residential development; fish ports, transport terminal, party block, and socialized housing site”.

The zone known as Lucao Area, according to the mayor, will be doubled as the Entertaining Tourism, and Recreational District with the following buildings and development types; Retail Strip; Ferry Terminal for Riverside Tours, Resort Development and Themed Parks and hotels; and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Middle of last year Mayor Fernandez told reporters during the Information Technology - Business Process Management Summit that after the approval of growth center mammoth corporations on IT-BPM would be providing 5,000 direct jobs to the graduates of colleges and universities here.

Fernandez said if she and the ICT-BPM stakeholders succeed, they might even extend this opportunity to other Pangasinan towns because of the enormous job generation potentials of this industry.

 In 2020, IT-BPM will be a U.S $40 to $55 billion industry due to the American English proficient Filipinos and the cheaper salaries, dusting off the remittances of the traditional dollar source of the country, the overseas contract workers (OFWs) that will generate $30 billion this year.

U.S corporations such as Citibank, Safeway, Chevron and Aetna all have  Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) operations in the Philippines according to the Los Angeles Times, as do smaller companies ranging from a Georgia medical collection agency to a New York spa operator that outsources its customer appointments.