Poro Point ecozone intact as court junks land claim
The beach area of Poro Point Freeport Zone in La Union – Photo from BCDA
MANILA, Philippines – The Regional Trial Court of San Fernando has dismissed a private firm’s claim to a prime 543-square-meter parcel of land within the Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ) in La Union.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which controls the 236.5-hectare economic hub, hailed the court decision that junked the petition for land registration of Shipside Inc.
Along with its predecessors, Shipside claimed that it has owned the land for several decades.
“This legal affirmation strengthens BCDA’s mandate over the property and paves the way for the continued advancement of its strategic development initiatives in PPFZ,” the state firm said in a statement on Thursday.
The BCDA, which oversees the PPFZ through its subsidiary Poro Point Management Corp., said the ruling was a “critical milestone” in advancing the development of Northern Luzon.
Rapidly growing
With the legal victory, the BCDA said the PPFZ was poised to become a key hub for tourism, logistics and investment.
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Situated in San Fernando City, the ecozone is considered as a rapidly growing center for investments and tourism in Northern Luzon.
Within it is the San Fernando airport and seaport, which serve as vital gateways connecting the region to the rest of the country.
At the center of the ecozone is the 65-hectare Thunderbird Resorts, a Mediterranean-inspired luxury retreat that has helped put Poro Point on the map as a premier destination for leisure and relaxation.
Once the site of the United States Wallace Air Station, the ecozone is accessible through expressways that connect Metro Manila to the northern part of the country.
These expressways include the North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, which further enhance its appeal as a strategic economic hub.
The seaport at Poro Point – Photo from BCDA
