P20-M earmarked for Leyte industrial zone plan

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 25  – The Department of Trade and Industry Board of Investments (DTI-BOI) is setting aside P20 million to complete the Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone (LEIZ) master plan and feasibility study in the next two years.

The trade department sees the blueprint as a key to attract investments to the proposed LEIZ designed to complement the 425-hectare Leyte Industrial Development Estate, the home to the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp. (Pasar).

DTI-BOI Executive Director Raul Angeles, who signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of the Trade Department late Thursday afternoon at Hotel Alejandro said their office has already allocated PHP10 million for drafting of master plan and another PHP10 million to complete the feasibility study.

The plan will be done next year, while the detailed study is up for printing by 2019.

The two documents form part of the Copper Industry Roadmap, which aims to promote the integrated development and competitiveness of copper and other related industries in Eastern Visayas. 

“Both the master plan and study will be actively marketed by the BOI to local and foreign investors for the establishment of the zone,” Angeles said.

The DTI-BOI has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Visayas State University (VSU) based in Baybay City, in the preparation of tender documents for the masterplan and study.

The deal calls for VSU to appoint project team members who possess the qualifications, educational background, and experience necessary to serve the project and consult with the BOI and Copper Industry Roadmap technical working group to develop the LEIZ master plan and study.

The zone is expected to house potential locators in the field of copper wire rod casting facility, downstream copper industry such as but not limited to copper wire producers, major industrial concerns that need power and port facilities such as steel, and copper-using industries.

Planned investments will support the operation of Pasar with electrolytic copper cathode as the primary product.

The firm gets its raw materials abroad and also ships the finished products outside Philippines, making its operation without inclusive economic impact in the region.

Pasar is the country’s only copper smelting and refining firm and one of the biggest in Asia. The firm produces 320,000 metric tons of copper cathodes every year, contributing about 30 percent of the Gross Regional Domestic Product.  (SQM/PNA)