What’s New in General Santos City?

City Development Projects in General Santos 

General Santos or Gensan is a city by the bay which is now a booming urban center. It is expanding rapidly as observed in recent developments in retail with SM and Robinsons. Ayala Center, according to some news is planning to invest in General Santos too since executives were seen touring the city recently. Tourism of course is growing with key destinations in Sarangani Highlands Garden and several resorts in the bay’s shore. The city’s elevated heights have been eyed by developers from Manila for suburban expansions and even the government is investing more for its development like DOST listing it for BPO-IT expansions.

Gensan is part of Region 12 also dubbed as SOCKSKARGEN with the four provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani Province, and Sultan Kudarat, and the other four cities of Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan, and Cotabato.

Here’s a list of ongoing and upcoming City Developments in General Santos City:

1. General Santos City (GSC) Airport Industrial Complex 

Also called the Aerotropolis, this P959 million international airport improvement project cover the following:

• Rehabilitation and improvement of the GSC airport terminal building with covered-walkway and vehicular parking area
• Provision of new navigational aids
• Expansion of apron space
• Construction of sewage treatment facility
• Construction of greeter’s hall and vehicular security checkpoints
• Support facilities and general engineering supervision

The GSC is one of the largest airports in the country with 600 hectares and its passenger traffic has been increasing at an average annual rate of 14.3% while cargo traffic has been growing at 20.82% according to GinalynCachuela, project manager of the SOCKSARGEN Area Development Project Office-Project management Unit (PMU).

2. University of Santo Tomas-Gensan Campus 

The longstanding hold for the pontifical educational institution and Asia’s oldest university to establish a satellite campus in the tuna capital has finally come to an end. The Department of Agrarian Reform granted Mayor Ronnel Rivera’s request to convert the agricultural lot of UST into an agri-institutional area. Encompassing Barangays Ligaya and Katangawan, the campus will offer BS Medical Technology, BS Pharmacy, BS Accountancy, BS Entertainment and Multimedica Computing, BS Tourism and programs not available in the main campus such as marine sciences and agricultural courses. Its location is an ideal site for the farm laboratories required by the programs and since it pursues an educational platform focused on science, technology and innovations, other programs in Engineering will also be offered namely Geodetics, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and Chemical Engineering.

3. Development and Expansion of Gensan National Highway

It would take P350 million to develop and expand the National Highway-Mabuhay road junction including the Bulaong-National Highway section. The Department of Public Works and Highways is already preparing for the project to help the city of Gensan solve one of its major problems which is traffic.

4. Food Security Program (FSP)

This year, a tentative budget of P489 million which will fund the construction of 23 more farm-to-market roads (FMRs) which is 45.63 kms in total and three rice and corn mills from the Department of Agriculture for SOCKSARGEN’S FSP. Of the 45.63 kms, 8.35 kms will be for Gensan’s FMRs and will be fast-tracked in this year’s FSP.

5. Development of Makar Wharf 

In anticipation of the ASEAN integration, the Makar Wharf’s capacities and capabilities were developed to be globally competitive. Recently, the port of Gensan has passed the international standards with flying colors showing that the port met the requirements on customer expectations both locally and internationally. Makar Wharf is the city’s main international seaport and is one of the country’s finest seaports with complete modern container yards, storage and weighing bridges to name just a few.

Below are the latest audits passed and certification earned by the port leading to its recommendation for international recognition:

• The external audit conducted by the Partnership in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (Pemsea), December 2015.
• Joint verification audit of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code implementationby the Philippine Office of Transportation Security (OTS) and the International Port Security Programme-United States Coast Guard (IPSP-USCG), December 2015
• ISO 9001:2008 certification for another three years from 2016 by the TUV Rheinland Philippines, Inc., February 2016

6. Plaza Heneral Santos Refurbishment 

The Plaza Heneral Santos is the central plaza and park of Gensan .The face lift  of the plaza has an approved budget of P4 million.  The plaza is a popular local destination and hosts the status of the city’s founder General Paulino Santos who was sent by Manuel L. Quezon’s Commonwealth government back in 1939 to establish a settlement.

7. Acquaculture processing facilities

Japanese company is willing to invest $500 Million dollars in the Philippines to process aquacultured products for export back to Japan. General Santos and Davao in Mindanao are being eyed fit for the facility. The venture could generate as many as 8,000 jobs in two to two-and-a-half years.

Mindanao is the apple of the eye for developments and investments today. It is true it is our time to shine. More are coming and as businessmen and a Mindanaoan we should be ready for it and stay guarded to keep our natural resources healthy. During the recent Environmental Forum DENR Undersecretary Gina Lopez once said “Mindanao resources is for Mindanao”.