PALO, Leyte – The Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) board has recently approved the establishment of an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Park at the Leyte Academic Center (LAC) in Brgy. Pawing, this town.

The economic zone will serve business and service establishments that cater to the academic and the telecommunications industry. It is located in the 49-hectare undeveloped area of the center.

Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla said that the provincial government is now complying with all the necessary documents for the Presidential Declaration making the center as a hub for IT.

“We are proud to say that we are able to get the approval of the PEZA board of directors in four days time when it usually take up to six months,” Petilla told Leyte Samar Daily Express.

Prior to the approval of PEZA early in this month, a feasibility study was conducted and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan had come up with a resolution supporting the proposal.

Early this month, the municipal council of this town manifested its support to the creation of the IT Park through a resolution.

When asked by Express why Leyte has easily gained the approval of PEZA, Petilla said “I think they know w4hay they are doing here.”

He expressed optimism that the problem on unemployment in the province will be somehow addressed. The governor expects up to 1, 000 locators in the ICT park that would hire thousands of workers.

“Our intention is invite investors. We are serious. In fact, a marketing team was already created,” Petilla told LSDE. “Such project would not only benefit the town but the whole province as well.”

The project is expected to transform the 4.9 hectares area located at the Government Center into an ICT Park equipped with Business Process Outsourcing and call centers. It would be a component of LAC.

On the other hand, the Leyte Tourism and Investment Promotion Center (LTIPC) earlier stated in a press statement that the “direction is expected to make our schools responsive to the specifi0c manpower needs of existing and future industries in the region.”

It was learned that potential locators have encouraged the provincial government to come up with the ICT Park concept.

LAC will be fully operationalized next year. The AMA computer Learning Center has reportedly signified renting at least half of the education hub.