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CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga: Since its declaration as a
Freeport zone, Clark has chalked up significant developments,
scoring big in investment attraction and boosting its bid to be one
of the most sought-after locations for information, communication
and technology (ICT) industry.
In his report to Clark
Development Corp. (CDC) president Levy P. Laus, CDC vice-president
for business development Ernesto Gorospe said that the
government-owned body has gained headway in its “major product
lines,” giving rise to unprecedented business deals and
recognition for the Freeport here.
Making his report also before
member mayors and governors of the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC),
Gorospe enumerated the achievements that include the expansion here
of Texas Instruments, the lease agreements signed with Taiwanese
firm Multi-Tek Fasteners Inc. (Multi-Tek), and Clark’s high rating
to host more projects in ICT business.
Texas Instruments, with its
$1-billion expansion project to be established here, is regarded as
one of the biggest single investment in Philippine economic history.
Its assembly plant will cover eight hectares and will employ 3,000
workers.
CDC and TI officials have invited
President Arroyo to lead the groundbreaking ceremony this month. The
initial production at its environment-friendly will start on the
second semester of 2008.
Multi-Tek, on the other hand, is
infusing fresh investment of $15.4 million in its Clark project. It
will manufacture, sell and export automotive fasteners and
industrial machine parts and supplies such as screws, plugs,
sockets, pipes, and hubs.
It will employ about 1,000
workers in a 1.5-hectare manufacturing facility here.
Clark’s coveted post as a
center for ICT businesses has just been validated by the Department
of Trade and Industry and the Commission on Information,
Communications and Technology.
Clark was recently given a score
of 9.23 points from the possible highest score of 10 in the
Readiness Scorecard for the Freeport to host ICT hub.
The score was posted as an output
of the ICT Strategic Planning Workshop attended by officials of CICT,
DTI, Tesda, CDC and major ICT stakeholders that included America
Online, PLDT, Cyber City Teleservices, Philexcel, Berthaphil, Holy
Angel University, Angeles University Foundation, among others.
Clark boasts of faster bandwidths
for cellular, telephony and Internet services. It now has STM 1
(synchronous transport module) fiber optic backbone that is capable
of delivering voice and data at 155 mbps.
Telecommunications firms based in
Clark like PLDT has recently upgraded to new generation network of
up to 10 gigabites of speed. Speedy transmission of data is vital to
the operation of backroom industries such as call centers and
business process outsourcing firms.
CDC is also evaluating proposals
for wireless fidelity service (WIFI) for the whole Freeport. This
will enable private enterprises, government agencies, residents,
employees and visitors to connect to the Internet wirelessly.
--Mark Louie P. Roxas
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