The provincial government of Batangas looks forward to the economic prospects that the Asean Batangas Access Zone (ABA Zone) – a 100-hectare development that will connect “superports” across the Asean region – will bring to its citizens.
The ABA Zone will feature a Smart Logistics Hub, a food port, a regional food terminal, and a coastal access road that will connect Batangas International Port to Bauan Port.
“The ABA Zone will help in making Batangas as one of the major economic centers of the Philippines. As such, we believe this development will stimulate the creation of high-paying jobs that will uplift our citizens’ standards of living,” said Hermilando Mandanas, governor of Batangas.
“In addition, we believe the ABA Zone will help in making our province even more attractive to local and foreign investors. Even now, we are seeing more investments in Batangas because of favorable trends such as accessibility to Metro Manila and attractive land prices, among others,” Mandanas added.
Last April 27, the provincial government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and YCH Group Singapore for a masterplan on the development of ABA Zone. A property that the national government owns in San Pascual, Batangas is seen as a potential site of this public-private partnership (PPP) project.
Mandanas, who accompanied President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his state visit to Singapore last September 6 to 7, discussed the next steps of the development of ABA Zone with the President, DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual, and YCH Group Singapore.
Mandanas also visited YCH Group Singapore’s Supply Chain City in Bulim Avenue, Singapore to take inspiration on how to pursue the development of ABA Zone. This facility is a mega supply chain, cold storage, and fulfillment facility in the middle of a 100-hectare master planned logistics and supply chain site.
