P50-B ‘mega city’ to rise in 3 Bulacan towns

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan, Philippines — A P50-billion “mega city” that will host an economic zone will be built in Bulacan province after local officials recently signed a contract with Chinese investors.

Gov. Daniel Fernando said the provincial government struck the business deal with Hunan Gov. Xu Dazhe in China’s Loudi City last month.

Fernando and Mayor Enrico Roque of Pandi town led the Bulacan delegation during the contract signing for the mega city that will traverse Pandi and the towns of Bocaue and Balagtas.

Roque, who was designated as economic team head by the provincial government, said the project would be built in a 400-hectare area covering the three towns.

The project, which is expected to create 100,000 jobs for local residents, is envisioned to be a techno hub that will host outlet stores, a shopping mall, factory outlets, manufacturing firms, warehouse and call centers, Fernando said.

According to Roque, Bulacan and Chinese officials have yet to finalize the project timetable.

“I’m confident that the multibillion-peso investment will start the soonest time possible,” Fernando said, adding that the groundbreaking ceremony could be held early next year.

Preliminary negotiations for the project began in October last year when the Chinese representatives met with the Bulacan officials in Manila. —Carmela Reyes-Estrope