CANDELARIA, Quezon -- Quezon province, particularly the town of Candelaria, would soon transform into a site of the world’s largest steel wire-rod manufacturing facility following the groundbreaking of the Steel Asia’s processing complex in Barangay Malabanban Sur here.
Governor David Suarez welcomed the investors of Steel Asia, one of the largest steel manufacturing firms in the country for locating their investments in the province which would boost Quezon’s recent tag at Calabarzon’s fastest growing economy, according to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)-Calabarzon regional office.
“We welcome you, thank you for coming to Quezon Province. This is a good way of ending my term in June. At least, I’m ending my term in a high note that we were able to usher in a new chapter of development and provide greater hope for Quezonians who have to look for jobs and opportunities in other regions and other provinces,” Suarez told Steel Asia investors who broke ground for the manufacturing site on April 29.
He said this has been part of the provincial government’s master development plan into a commercial industrial area in the 2nd District, while the three other districts are into development of the agri-industrial sector.
“At least, we can tell them, in the next few years, that the jobs could be generated right here in Quezon province, especially in this town of Candelaria,” he added.
The provincial governor said the wire-rod manufacturing facility augurs well for the provincial development and investment, such as the tollway and road (TR4) extension project, processing plants, industrial parks, among others.
He also thanked Steel Asia for its confidence in the provincial government for the realization of their steel flagship firm’s goal of producing more than two million tons of processed steel bars per year.
Benjamin Yao, who hails from Lucban, Quezon and chair and chief executive officer of Steel Asia, relayed his firm’s gratitude for the cooperation and support of both the provincial and Candelaria municipal governments for the steel project.
“The Province of Quezon, the Municipality of Candelaria and the barangay of Malabanban-Sur will be home to the most precise, most efficient and most environmentally friendly wire-rod manufacturing facility in the world. This is something we should be proud of,” Yao said.
He said the project expects to provide various opportunities for the Candelaria and Quezon constituents in terms of job generation and revenues for the local governments.
“It will create many business opportunities to support operation. It will create small and medium enterprises. We expect many of these new businesses will be formed by Candelaria’s entrepreneurs — whom one day maybe global exporters,” he added.
The wire-rod manufacturing plant occupies a 32-hectare land and could employ more than 1,500 workers not only from this town but also from the neighboring towns.
He also acknowledged the competent leadership of Candelaria Mayor Macky Boonggaling for supporting and ushering the multi-million investment in this town.
House Minority Floor Leader Danilo Suarez also expressed admiration for the company’s mission and vision and their corporate social responsibility to boost the local economy and benefit local governments and their constituents.
“This is an opener for me and a learning card of the potential that we can do if we have the vision. Napakaganda po ng vision ng ating kababayan dito (our province-mate has a very good vision) and just for that na magkakaroon tayo ng self-sufficiency sa ating mga basic materials na kailangan natin (we would have self-sufficiency in our basic and necessary materials),” Suarez said.
The older Suarez and his son both assured their constituents of the enormous contributions of the steel manufacturing plant to the economy that would redound to benefit Quezonians.
They also affirmed their and the firm’s commitment to ensure protection of the environment in compliance with the country’s environment laws and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources required environment compliance certificate. (PNA)
