Aboitiz infra arm invests P1.4 billion for WCE expansion

CEBU, Philippines —  Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, is investing P1.4 billion into the expansion of West Cebu Estate (WCE) to host more industrial locators in the province of Cebu.

With the development of 39 hectares of the 540-hectare estate, the expansion is expected to generate an additional 14,000 jobs upon its completion by 2024, and will include the diversification of WCE’s locator mix to include light to medium manufacturing.

In its groundbreaking ceremony held Thursday, March 10, Cebu Industrial Park Developers, Inc. President and Head of AIC Economic Estates Rafael Fernandez de Mesa said that there is growing demand for industrial spaces in key areas in Cebu, with more locators expected to set their sights in the region as the country gears up for recovery.

“The province of Cebu is well-positioned to welcome foreign and local investors as they look for high-growth areas that can support their businesses—given its strategic location, skilled population, lower cost of doing business and a well-established ecosystem of infrastructure. We look forward to welcoming more locators as we transform the West Cebu Estate into a fully-integrated economic center that will power the growth of Balamban and its surrounding communities, similar to our work in AIC’s LIMA Estate in Batangas and Mactan Economic Zone 2 Estate in Lapu-Lapu City,” Fernandez de Mesa said.

As Cebu remains an attractive location for businesses seeking prime talent in the Visayas, Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay hopes that the WCE Expansion will increase employment and economic activity for the first class municipality  tagged as the “Shipbuilding Capital of the Philippines.”

Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General BGen. Charito “Ching” Plaza commended the estate expansion’s role in spurring economic growth through the creation of livelihood opportunities.

“By giving jobs to our people, we are not just increasing their buying power, we will be creating a multiplier effect that will see more businesses growing along with the demands of the people. PEZA’s plan is for all LGUs to have ecozones, which will be an economic driver to grow smart towns, digital cities, leading to new metropolitan regions in all areas,” BGen. Plaza shared. 

WCE hosts 11 locators from medium to heavy industries, and has complementary residential, commercial, and institutional components, with future development areas for commercial centers, dormitories, and residential communities. 

The West Cebu Estate is owned and developed by Cebu Industrial Park Developers, Inc. (CIPDI)—a joint venture project of Aboitiz InfraCapital with Tsuneishi Holdings of Japan.

WCE is a 540-hectare mixed-use development in Balamban, Cebu, first incorporated in 1992. WCE is home to the 283-hectare Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) registered zone tagged as the “Shipbuilding Capital of the Philippines.” Hosting 11 locators from medium to heavy industries, the township has complementary residential, commercial, and industrial components, and offers future development areas for commercial centers, dormitories, and residential communities. WCE is operated and developed by Cebu Industrial Park Developers, Inc.—a joint venture project of Aboitiz InfraCapital with Tsuneishi Holdings of Japan.