Poro Point Freeport and Special Economic Zone

Fast emerging as a prime location for investments and tourism is the Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ). Nestled at the tip of San Fernando province, Poro Point is a peninsula completely surrounded by the South China Sea and dotted with strips of pristine white sand beaches ideal for tourism-related industries.

THE ZONE

The PPFZ is the former Wallace Air Station converted into productive economic use through the enactment of Republic Act 7227 (Bases Conversion and Development Act) on March 19, 1992 and Proclamation No. 216 on July 27, 1993 transferring the lands to the BCDA and declared the area as an Special Economic and Freeport Zone.

The Freeport Status was affirmed through the enactment of Republic Act 9400 on March 2007, thus the zone is now called the Poro Point Freeport Zone.

The PPFZ is master planned as an industrial estate with tourism facilities. The presence of an airport and a seaport makes it an ideal location for commerce, distribution center and export-oriented activities.

Getting There

Strategic in its location at the upper side of the Lingayen Gulf, Poro Point is along the Southeast Asian sea lane, less than an hour by plane from Taiwan, China and Hongkong, and within three hours from Singapore, Japan and South Korea.

Poro Point is located at the northwestern tip of North Luzon, west of the City of San Fernando in the province of La Union. It is accessible by land, sea and air, approximately travel time is about 5 hours away from Manila and more than an hour from Baguio City by car and about 50 minutes flight-time to and from Manila.

A Investor's Haven

Poro Point offers the perfect blend for business and leisure. The presence of modern and dependable infrastructure facilities coupled with an investment-friendly climate makes it an ideal haven for local and foreign investors. Its strategic location and close proximity to the thriving economies in Southeast Asia also makes the Freeport an ideal springboard for access to these markets.

PPFZ offers liberal tax laws and incentives such as:

• Tax- and duty-free importation of machineries, raw materials, supplies, and all other articles including finished goods.
• PPFZ shall be managed as a separate customs territory, ensuring free flow or articles within the Freeport zone.
• Unlimited purchase and consumption of tax- and duty-free consumer goods within the ppsefz.
• No local and national taxes. in lieu of taxes, ppsefz enterprise shall pay a fee of five percent (5%) of gross income earned.

The Zone is home to the San Fernando Airport, a secondary airport serving as an alternate to the Loakan Airport in Baguio City. The airport brings the people closer to the pristine beaches of La Union, the scenic beauty of Baguio City, the cultural heritage of Ilocos and other world-class tourist facilities in the North. It hosts thrice a week commercial flights from and to Manila via a local commercial airline, Asian Spirit, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The San Fernando airport is being upgraded into a regional airport of international standard and quality that can accommodate larger aircrafts, such as Boeing 747 and Airbus 320, and to ensure the airport's operational safety.

Another possible area for investment is the 50-hectare agro-industrial park. The industrial estate is expected to enhance investment atmosphere conducive for agribusiness processing, export processing, light industries, standardized factories, warehousing/dry storage, cold storage, and information technology park.

Also, the San Fernando international seaport has a total land area of 30 hectares and with a possible reclamation of over 100 hectares. With its present capacity, the seaport can accommodate all types of vehicles such as: Cruise ships, roll-on roll-off vessels, motor tankers, barges, cargo vessels, motor tugboats, passenger vessels and fishing boats.

Tourism Opportunities

The 240-hectare former US airbase is also being groomed to become one of the best tourist destinations Northern Luzon.

Major tourism projects that will transform the PPFZ into the destination of choice for international and local tourists are already underway. These include the construction of the world-class nine-hole golf course, a luxury hotel and resort and casino. Another major attraction inside the Freeport is the tourism and recreational area which will feature the promenade, an area that will offer an idyllic and awe-inspiring view of the sunset; and the "Little Boracay", a short stretch of porous sand lying close to the promenade.

Likewise, PPMC also included in its development plan the promotion of the Poro Point Lighthouse as a tourist destination. The Lighthouse is situated on the southern tip of Punta de Poro, along the entrance to the Port of San Fernando. The lights of Poro Point serve as harbor guides to ships entering and leaving the Port of San Fernando ever since it was built by the Spanish authorities on 28 November 1885.

Estate Manager

On June 29, 1993, former President Fidel Ramos issued Executive Order No. 103 establishing John Hay Development Corporation as a subsidiary and implementing arm of the BCDA for Camp John Hay. This was subsequently amended to include the development of the Wallace Air Station, thereby renaming it to John Hay Poro Point Development Corporation (JPDC). It was under JPDC when the operation, management and development of the San Fernando seaport and airport were turned over to BCDA on February 1, 1997 and February 1, 1998, respectively.

Finally, on October 2002, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 132 renaming the John Hay Poro Point Development Corporation to John Hay Management Corporation for John Hay Special Economic Zone and, at the same time, created the Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC) to manage the Poro Point Freeport Zone.

VISION

Our vision embodies what we want to achieve in the longer term.

"We want to be known as the most professional and reliable Freeport and Developer in the country by developing the Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ) to become one of the best tourist, commercial, retirement and industrial destinations in Southeast Asia."

MISSION

To achieve our vision, we have articulated our mission as follows:

"To develop and manage the Poro Point Freeport Zone while ensuring the conservation and protection of our environment and natural resources;

To provide real value added and excellent customer service to our investment partners, port users and tourist visitors;

To link with other government organizations and private sector in performing our tasks competently;

To contribute to the development of Region I, mindful of our corporate social responsibility by providing the best convention facility, a unique leisure park, the best alternative retirement area and the best port/industrial hub."

Officers and Board of Directors

Felix S. Racadio - President/CEO

Directors:

Amparo M. Aspiras
Joselito M. De Guzman
Ma. Carmencita A. Itchon
Emma B. Lim
Pantaleon G. Dumlao, Jr.
Ives Q. Nisce
Jose A . Madayag, Jr.
Anthony C. Manguiat/Vice-President and COO
Elberto E. Emphasis

CONTACT
Administrative Office
Pennsylvania Avenue, Poro Point
City of San Fernando 2500, La Union, Philippines

Telephone: (63)(072) 2424016-17
Fax: (63) (072) 2420683
E-mail Address: ppmc@sflu.com

San Fernando Airport Office
California Avenue, Canaoay
City of San Fernando 2500, La Union, Philippines

Telephone: (63)(072) 2425638
Fax: (63) (072) 2425637