ABSTRACT
Industrial estates have been present in the Philippines since the 1970s. However, initial projects were unsuccessful in attaining the goal of dispersing industrialisation to the countryside because infrastructure facilities were not attractive enough to draw large manufacturing companies. In the early 1990s, the government renewed its call for industry dispersal by encouraging development of large private industrial estates in the Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon Provinces) growth zone. These estates were successful in drawing foreign investors and in no time became fully occupied. Apart from the facilities and amenities of Calabarzon estates, their success is due also to the presence of infrastructure and their proximity to Metro Manila. To date, there are 51private and government-run industrial estates and export-processing zones throughout the country. Further, many industrial estate operators are undertaking expansion programs to take advantage of the strong demand that is expected in the coming years.
