SLEX builder investing in gov’t one-stop shops in the regions

MTD Philippines Inc. is building a P3.6-billion regional government center in Bataan as part of a string of one-stop shops envisioned across the country.

Company president Patrick Nicholas David told reporters on Friday that the hub, which will offer different government services to facilitate transactions with the public and businesses, should be finished in a few months.

The company has already finished two similar centers— a P2.5-billion hub in Calamba City, Laguna, and another worth P1.6-billion in Palayan City, Nueva Ecijia.

He said the company would put up the business segment of the development after the completion of the center. This segment will have two to three IT buildings, which can house 5,000 to 6,000 seats.

The IT park in Palayan City has recently been certified as an economic zone under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. The company expects to do the same for the IT park in the Bataan regional government center.

MTD Philippines Inc. is part of the Malaysia-based MTD, a leading Asian infrastructure conglomerate.

MTD, which constructed the 36-kilometer South Luzon Expressway, invests in building these regional hubs to address gridlocks in business transactions.

The company is also doing the multibillion peso National Government Administrative Center in Clark, Pampanga, Phase 1-A of which is expected to be completed next year.

Calling the company’s projects as “hybrid” public-private partnerships, David said the government would provide for the land and the MTD would cover the costs of construction.

David said they were also in negotiations to put up similar hubs in other areas, such as in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. —ROY STEPHEN C. CANIVEL