MALOLOS CITY– Despite strained diplomatic relations
between China and the Philippines, Bulacan is looking to replicate the
industrial development of Shenzhen province in southern China.
As this developed, the provincial government of Bulacan
is preparing the Provincial Physical Framework Plan (PPFP) for presentation on
March 1 to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., who hails from Pulilan town.
Ochoa, according to Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado is one of
the brains behind the plan to replicate the Shenzhen model, a brainchild of the
late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping.
“We will meet with investors in Bulacan so that we can
coordinate development projects and update our Physical Framework Plan,” said
Alvarado.
Initially, the governor said that the PPFP has identified
growth areas in the province which can be developed into business districts.
These include growth areas in the cities of Malolos,
Meycauayan and San Jose Del Monte, along with those in the towns of Pulilan,
Plaridel, Baliwag, and San Rafael.
Alvarado said that agriculture areas of San Miguel, San
Ildefonso, San Rafael and the mountain town of Donya Remedios Trinidad will be
impacted by past paced development in the province.
However, he noted that development will be inclusive of
all other towns.
He said that they are now conducting inventory of local
industries in Bulacan like the pyrotechnics industry in Bocaue, Sta. Maria,
Baliwag and San Rafael along with jewelry-making in the City of Meycauayan and
aquaculture in the coastal towns of Hagonoy, Paombong, Malolos, Bulakan and
Obando.
“This will be an inclusive growth, hindi lang
pagpapaganda ng kalsada at mga polisiya, kasama rin sa direct promotion ang
production component ng mga industriyang nagbibigay ng development sa Bulacan,”
Alvarado said.
With regards to the Shenzhen model, he said that it has
not been finalized yet, but they are looking forward to replicating its
industrialization and modernization experience.
Based on documents obtained by Punto, Shenzhen is one of
the most successful economic zones in the world and the only city which
developed at an unprecedented rate.
Records showed that Shenzhen is just a small fishing
village with hilly and fertile agrarian land, and with population of only
30,000 when it was established as an special economic zone in 1979.
Today, Shenzhen is a sprawling and high technology
manufacturing and service city with over 14.5 million population as of 2012.
Located north of Hongkong, Shenzhen’s gross domestic
product (GDP) per capita was $14,615 in 2010 and is expected to rank 11th in
the world in terms of GDP per capita by 2025.
Records also showed that Shenzhen now has more than 6,000
design companies with more than 60,000 employees.
According to Alvarado, Bulacan shares a lot of
similarities with Shenzhen as far as location and topography is concerned.
Like Shenzhen, Alvarado said Bulacan also has a hilly and
fertile agrarian area, coastal area and it is located just north of Metro
Manila.
He said that fast paced development in Bulacan must be
carefully planned to ensure balance and protection of ecology.
