THE P150-million land development project at the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) was boosted by the recent opening of a gasoline station catering to locators at the Freeport in Mariveles town.
The on-going development project is one of the 54 locators at the FAB, said the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) in a statement on Tuesday. It added that three firms have pending applications.
AFAB Chairman and Administrator Deogracias G.P. Custodio and officials of the One Source Petroleum Marketing Corporation opened the gas station, One Source.
The AFAB said the station is part of the development project that will also bring in a number of restaurants, an atrium and a hotel fronting the magnificent view of the FAB coastline.
Named as the Cosmopolitan of Mariveles, this port side development will also boast a ferry terminal with promenades open to the FAB locators and visitors.
“This is another exciting development at the FAB for it opens much needed employment opportunities as well as answers the needs of our locators,” said Custodio.
“The FAB has been the investment destination of choice of foreign and local companies. These companies created job opportunities for Bataeños while enjoying the superior incentives that the FAB offers,” he added.
The Chinese restaurant Hap Chan opened a branch at the FAB earlier this year.
“There is a good investment climate here. Because this is a Freeport, there’s a lot of tax privilege we can enjoy.
And there’s good support from the congressman of Bataan,” said Samuel Lee, owner of Hap Chan FAB.
He was referring to Second District Rep. Albert Garcia, author of the law that converted the former economic zone into a Freeport in 2009.
Twenty Oaks Duty Free and Hypermart also owned by Lee will soon open at the FAB.
“The FAB is set to define the new model for global freeport Asia,” said Custodio.
