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Why foreign and local investors love Batangas

Blogs & Features

November 8, 2022

Mention Batangas to local and foreign tourists alike and images of breathtaking natural surroundings immediately come to mind, such as idyllic beaches that are perfect for swimming, lush forests and mountain trails, and the famously picturesque Taal Volcano. The province is also known for being home to a number of important historical places, as well being the origin of a variety of unique delicacies and produce like bulalo, Batangas lomi, tamales ng Ibaan, and the iconic “barako” coffee.

However, not many people might know that Batangas is a popular destination among businesses and investors, too. While it is sought-after as a place for leisure and recreation, it is also a highly prized location for companies and enterprises. As part of the burgeoning Region IV-A or more popularly known as the Calabarzon area south of Metro Manila, it is in the midst of remarkable economic growth brought about by local and foreign investments.

According to the Board of Investments (BOI), the region attracted PHP 390 worth of investments during the pre-COVID-19 pandemic year of 2019, making Calabarzon a significant part of the country’s economic engine.   In 2021, Calabarzon also recorded a gross regional domestic product (GDRP) growth of 7.6 percent, the fastest post-pandemic economic growth among all Philippine regions according to the Philippine Statistics Auhtority. It registered a total GDRP of PHP 2.785 trillion, up from PHP 2.565 trillion in 2020. 

Today, investors in the industrial and manufacturing sectors—including those that are involved in automotives, consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals, and many other industries—are once again flocking to Calabarzon, particularly to the Province of Batangas. But just why do local and foreign companies love to be in this province? This short guide will shed light on a few of these reasons.

Sprawling land of opportunity

Batangas is one of the few provinces that is able to offer wide, open spaces fit for large-scale industrial operations. In fact, it is in Batangas where Aboitiz InfraCapital had set its sight on developing what would be known as the country’s largest privately owned industrial estate, LIMA Estate. It covers a vast 794-hectare area that is registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), thus making it especially attractive to foreign locators and investors. It is continuously evolving, from originally being anchored in industrial activities, it will become a master-planned, mixed-use development that comprises residential, commercial, recreational, and institutional amenities.

Ideal place to live in 

Along with the development of these industrial sites come residential settlements that are primarily for the needs of locator workers. Thankfully, Batangas provides a family-friendly atmosphere, not just in terms of providing an ideal, nature-proximate environment, but also through the presence of support establishments that provide all the creature comforts of life. One does not have to live in crowded areas like Metro Manila to be served by these amenities anymore. 
Commercial hubs like the LIMA Exchange make everyday living in Batangas easy and comfortable. This 2.6-hectare development is one of the complementary elements of LIMA Estate, housing a community center, a grand transport terminal, a major supermarket, as well as other retail and service shops across 7,000 square meters of leasable space.

Highly accessible

Thanks to the government’s aggressive infrastructure development program in recent years, the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas corridor is now easily accessible by road travel, primarily through the main South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) as well as further through the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road or STAR Tollway. Trips from the National Capital Region are now as swift as a couple of hours, and conveniently filled with opportunities for pit stops and visits to numerous points of interest across the region. 

One such local tourist destination in Batangas for instance, is The Outlets at Lipa, another commercial development within the LIMA Estate that is also known as the largest outlet shopping center in Luzon. Apart from retail activities, it also offers various lifestyle amenities like community art spaces, a dog park, and a full Olympic-size football field for sporting events. Destinations such as these are vital in stimulating tourism in the province and in spurring further economic growth, and making them accessible—as the government of Batangas has been doing—is important to tap into the growing market of out-of-towners and weekend travelers.

Teeming with human resources 

One thing that large industrial and commercial enterprises are in constant need of is an equally large workforce, and in places like Batangas, human talent is in no short supply. Consider that as of 2020, the total population of the province is already nearing the 3 million mark. Moreover, Batangas boasts of having one of the highest literacy rates in the country, at a combined average of 96 percent between males and females. This is due to the presence of a lot of reputable schools and academic institutions across the province, which include De La Salle University – Lipa, Batangas State University, the University of Batangas, the Lyceum of the Philippines University in Batangas, St. Bridget College, and the Edustria High School by FEU and TIP, which is located within The Outlets at Lipa.

Majority of residents, being well-versed in Tagalog, are also fluent in English. This makes them very attractive as potential employees or workers in multinational enterprises.

Indeed, there are a lot of things going for Batangas that make it a highly desired location among investors. With foresight, Aboitiz InfraCapital has placed its bets on this province and continues to help realize its vast potentials not just for the benefit of companies geared toward success but most importantly, for the welfare and sustainable development of the communities where they operate.

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