ECONOMIC AREA. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian delivers his speech at the Manila Forum for the Philippines-China Relations at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City on Aug. 21, 2024. The Chinese envoy proposes the Greater Manila Bay Area, according to Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. president Cecilio Pedro. (PNA photo by Kris M. Crismundo)
MANILA – Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian has proposed to Filipino-Chinese businessmen to develop the Greater Manila Bay Area (GMBA) similar to the Greater Bay Area covering Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) president Cecilio Pedro mentioned this during the Manila Forum for Philippines-China Relations in Pasay City Wednesday.
According to Pedro, Huang has made this proposal to replicate the GBA in the Philippines, which will include the areas near Manila Bay—from Bataan to Cavite.
“Ambassador Huang Xilian has seen that there is the potential. We’re linking up between Bataan Cavite, so in between is the Greater Manila and Bulacan,” the FFCCCII chief said.
Pedro added that Filipino-Chinese businessmen are also supportive of the suggestion of the Chinese envoy.
When asked how the GMBA will work with the Luzon Economic Corridor, which is backed by the United States and Japan as part of the trilateral partnership with the Philippine, Pedro said he does not see any issue in having two economic development initiatives within the same areas.
“What’s wrong with that? The more, the merrier,” he said. (PNA)
