Business Log
Investments in Pangasinan up by 96.15%
By Eva C. Visperas
The New Year started with a good report as far as investment in Pangasinan is concerned.
I talked to Daria Mingaracal, provincial caretaker of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the province. Her title sounds like she’s a caregiver (and she laughs at it whenever I comment on it) but in reality she is the acting provincial head. Our friend Jimmy Lucas had retired many years ago as DTI provincial director.
Anyway, from what I gathered, Pangasinan amassed a total of P7,662,190,806 investment in 2006. In 2005, it was only P3,906,240,816.
Wow! That’s certainly something we should be happy about.
Credit that to investors’ trust in our province. Expect a domino effect pushing the numbers in our business climate further when multi national companies enter into our territory to put up shops.
Last year there were six large companies that poured in investments in the province. Per DTI’s standard, large means at least an investment of P100 million. Only one was registered in 2005.
Dagupan City alone, the business center of Pangasinan and the Ilocos region even as far as Northern Luzon, got last year a very good share of investment that totaled P1.08 million compared to prior year’s P.309 million only (or 184.96 percent increase).
This year, more investments are expected as Calasiao Mayor Roy Macanlalay whose turf is very near Dagupan, told this corner that Robinson’s already bought a lot possibly for another mall in his town.
My informant told me the area was beside the car shop somewhere in barangay San Miguel.
Only last December 15, Gerry’s Grill opened its latest franchise in Calasiao.
I dined there and people had to wait outside to be accommodated because they could hardly have them seated in the restaurant immediately as the place was packed.
Perhaps diners flocked to the place out of sheer curiosity or that the locals who have been patronizing the restaurant in many parts of the country, particularly in Metro Manila, continued their patronage right in their locality.
For sure, the competition that the restaurant poses will force others to strive better, improve their menus and services, all for the benefit of the locals.
More investments, more choices. Better for the paying public.
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/business-log/)
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