Gov. Espino told Korean Investors to start their projects ASAP

Gov. Espino told Korean Investors to start their projects ASAP

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- A group of Korean investors presented a master plan and latest Korean technologies to support three of its seven proposed business ventures in the province during the business trip of Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. to South Korea last August 14 to17.

According to Provincial Information Officer Butch Velasco, who joined the Governor in Korea, the three presentations of the JJGPK Co. Ltd. include the development of the eco-tourism zone, cold storage and chicken dressing plant. “The other projects that were also discussed during the visit of Gov. Espino to Korea are the Korean surplus center, knowledge process outsourcing, mining and water transport,” Velasco said.

The Governor told them that they must start any of their projects as soon as possible to provide and generate jobs and livelihood opportunities to Pangasinenses.

It was agreed that a retirement village, which will not only cater to Korean retirees but also to Filipino Korean war veterans, and a golf course, will be the first to be set up.

The retirement village will feature high-rise residences that will cater to upper and mid-income clients.

The eco-tourism zone, conceptualized under the working title “Lingayen Land,” will be a self-contained community that will feature African and Asian safari tour with its own mono trail, entertainment center which will be a little kind of Disneyland dubbed as “dream land.” With children as its target market, this theme park will also include the significant periods of Philippine history.

The complex will also be a host to a yacht club, docking areas, water sports area, a string of restaurants with a floating restaurant as a highlight, hotels and a water park with a wave pool for children and adults.

Velasco said that the Governor’s party also visited a cold storage facility, similar to what is being planned to be constructed here, that does not utilize ice or blower which can further prolong the life of stored fruits or vegetables. The governor met the inventor of the facility and he is willing to visit Pangasinan.

Another investment to help poultry growers in Pangasinan is the chicken dressing plant. This facility uses technology that is six times faster than an ordinary chicken dressing plant in the country.

For the surplus center, the Korean investors plan to sell slightly used home and office appliances.
Pangasinan’s long coastline and river ways also enticed these Korean investors to engage in water transport. They will bring here ferry boats and barges for tourism and as alternative means to transport people along the major rivers of Pangasinan.

The Korean investors said that cruising Pangasinan rivers will be a tourist attraction since these are surrounded by breathtaking mangroves. The Governor considers this timely since the Provincial Government has embarked on a massive cleaning and dredging operations of Pangasinan rivers.

The governor also told the Koreans to look for investors that will set up a steel manufacturing in Pangasinan saying that the country though rich in minerals has no single steel plant. The governor told the Koreans that their steel industry catapulted them as a very progressive nation.

Prior to the meeting of Gov. Espino with the Korean investors, he attended the training conference on the Rice Processing Complex conducted by the Korean International Cooperation Agency from August 8 to 13.

Governor Espino was joined by Executive Assistant Ramon Morden and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist staff Nestor Batalla during the KOICA conference. He was later joined by Provincial Information Officer Butch Velasco for his meetings with the JJGPK investors.

The proposed business ventures from other Korean investors include: the establishment of a commercial and industrial complex, a Pangasinan Heart and Medical Center, electric vehicle manufacturing, housing program and waste-to-energy plant.

Other foreign investors who have expressed business ties with the provincial government include the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, Velasco said. (PIO/Rafael Manuel III)