DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT Top business leaders take part in the 14th Batangas Development Summit held early this month in Lima Park Hotel at Lima Commercial Estate in Lipa-Malvar as the province is poised to become the next gateway for progress, having been designated as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations鈥� Logistics Hub system. 鈥擟ONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The province of Batangas is positioning itself as an important gateway to the progress and development of the rest of the country.
This was stressed by Gov. Hermilando Mandanas at the recent 14th Batangas Development Summit held in Lima Park Hotel at Lima Commercial Estate in Lipa-Malvar, Batangas.
Mandanas cited in particular the growing importance of Batangas International Port, which now processes more than three times as many passengers as the Manila seaport. 鈥淚n terms of cargo [handled], we鈥檙e slowly catching up [with Manila],鈥� he said.
鈥淏atangas is a gateway of the nautical highway,鈥� the governor said. The seaport also allowed the province to provide other essential raw materials and services to the rest of the country.
Mandanas pointed out that the province had always played an important role in the life and growth of the Philippines. At present, about 鈥�65 percent of the country鈥檚 fuel requirements passed through the province.鈥�
Batangas is a distribution hub for diesel, gasoline, kerosene and aviation gas, as it hosts major players in the fuel industry, Shell and Caltex. The local fuel company Petron also has some facilities there.
Logistics, learning
The province itself is self-sufficient in energy, generating 5,375 megawatts which, Mandanas said, was used 100 percent by Batangas. A new facility under construction will generate another 2,500 megawatts.
But he stressed that the local government was aware that its energy source could be depleted by 2025 so three gasification plants are being constructed and would be finished in 2023.
Recently, the province was designated as part of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Logistics Hub system, which has completed facilities in Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Indonesia will soon be joining the network. The Philippines is in the process of starting its part in the Asean scheme.
鈥淪o, the Asean Logistics Hub is not going to be in Manila, Cebu or Davao but here in Batangas,鈥� Mandanas said.
The governor acknowledged the contribution of the Batangas State University (BSU), designated as the country鈥檚 National Engineering University, in the province鈥檚 push to be the gateway for progress and development in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region and the whole country.
Mandanas said, 鈥渉ere (BSU), we really have the basic ingredients 鈥� with the ideas, the creativity [and innovation].鈥�
University president Dr. Tirso Ronquillo said the institution was producing engineers and technicians needed by Calabarzon and the rest of the country and was adapting programs and courses to local needs.
For gentler dev鈥檛
Mandanas also acknowledged the significance of being in the Calabarzon region, which has been 鈥渁 leader in development and progress in the country.鈥�
He said, as the province emerged from almost two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not just taking from where it left off and not adopting a new normal. The province would be coming up with an 鈥渋mproved, more innovative and more committed [version of itself] with a strong faith and bright hope for the future.鈥�
Batangas would pursue with new vigor its goals of health, education, livelihood, and the protection of the life and property of its constituents. Development would also be gentler and more inclusive.
Mandanas was dropping fist bumps as a form of greeting鈥斺�淎yaw ko na ng fight lagi鈥� (I don鈥檛 want to be fighting always)鈥攁nd going for the 鈥渟afer鈥� touching of fingertips, supposedly a symbol for 鈥渁lign.鈥�
He stressed that Batangas鈥� development would be sustainable and inclusive, 鈥渁 celebration of life.鈥�
鈥淲alang iwanan (nobody will be left behind),鈥� he said. INQ
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