Source: Manila Bulletin, 9 January 2012

By Mar T. Supnad

BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Philippines — This newly-booming city in Central Luzon hit a record-breaking investment of P5.95 billion in the year 2011, Mayor Joet S. Garcia reported in his State of the City Address (SOCA) recently.

Garcia reported that the total amount of investment included the successful implementation of the national government’s program of Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) in which the city government was able to attract private investors such as the New San Jose Builders owned by Jerry Acuzar, a native of San Jose, Balanga City.

Through the initiative of Garcia, Acuzar entered into a business agreement with the local government to put up the Galeria Victoria, the biggest commercial establishment in the city that was opened only last Dec. 15, 2011.

The successful establishment of the Galeria Victoria was constructed at no cost on the City through the PPP.

Garcia said the city will earn tens of millions of pesos from the rentals alone aside from the hundreds of employment it will generate once it is fully operational.

Other big investments the past year were the renovation of the Center Plaza mall where the Jollibee, Greenwitch and other commercial establishments were set up; the New Balanga Public market, a McDonald’s store, and Wanam, among others.

“The healthy business competition and convenience has resulted to a more opportunity and jobs and that the newly-hired 700 number of employment will be double once all the commercial establishments in the city are fully operational,” said Garcia.

The former place of Jollibee, Garcia said, was awarded in public bidding to the EBA construction owned by Engr. Eusebio Aquino, also a native of this city, through a build-lease-transfer scheme in which the city will earn an expected amount of P108 million from lease payment in 25 years.

The soon-to-be-constructed Plaza de San Jose, like the Galeria, will be put up through PPP and the city will spend nothing for its construction.

Meanwhile, the Robinson posted record-breaking sales during its opening last December 15, 2011 exceeding 25 percent sales from its other branches, Garcia said.