MANILA – In a bold stroke aimed at igniting Cebu’s industrial renaissance, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the expansion of the West Cebu Industrial Park (WCIP), transforming the 283-hectare ecozone into a sprawling 600-hectare beacon of manufacturing might and economic promise. Proclamation No. 1105, signed on December 4, 2025, and published over the weekend, adds seven prime parcels totaling 69,490 square meters in Barangay Arpili and Buanoy, Balamban town, cementing Cebu’s status as the Philippines’ shipbuilding capital and a magnet for global investors.
This isn’t Marcos’ first play for WCIP – just months ago, in October 2024, Proclamation 710 infused 176,783 square meters across 19 lots, supercharging the zone’s growth trajectory. The latest infusion, governed by Republic Act No. 7916 (as amended by RA No. 8748) and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Board Resolution No. 22-117, integrates titles like Lot 4-A Sk-07-000192 (TCT No. 113-2024000343) in Arpili and five in Buanoy, including Lot 1437-A-2-A-2 Sk-07-000191 (TCT No. 113-2014000144). Operated by Cebu Industrial Park Developers Inc. (CIPDI), a powerhouse JV between the Aboitiz Group and Japan’s Tsuneishi Group, WCIP now sprawls 540 hectares as a mixed-use marvel, hosting 11 locators in medium-to-heavy industries.
For Balamban, the crown jewel of Cebu’s economic map, this expansion is a launchpad. Since its 1992 inception, WCIP has anchored the nation’s shipbuilding sector, drawing giants like Tsuneishi Heavy Industries and fostering a ripple of jobs, exports, and expertise. PEZA incentives – from income tax holidays to duty-free imports – sweeten the pot, luring more players to a zone that’s already a global contender. “This proclamation unlocks untapped potential, blending industrial prowess with sustainable growth,” Marcos stated, his vision aligning with the Philippine Development Plan’s thrust for inclusive industrialization.
The implications? A turbocharged Cebu economy, where shipyards hum louder and supply chains stretch further, potentially creating thousands of jobs and boosting GDP contributions from manufacturing. As the archipelago eyes ASEAN chairmanship in 2026, WCIP’s glow could illuminate regional trade corridors, turning Balamban’s bays into bays of opportunity. For locals – from welders to warehouse hands – it’s more than land; it’s legacy, proving that in the Philippines’ industrial odyssey, every hectare harvested yields a harvest of hope.