| East
Asia's Strategic Choice |
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Business Environment
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| AT THE CROSSROADS OF EAST ASIA
The Northwestern Luzon Growth Quadrangle or North Quad is the ideal Gateway to East Asia. It is strategically located at the northwestern tip of the Philippine island of Luzon. The North Quads coastline runs along the international sea lanes of the South China Sea, making it ideal for trade with China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and the ASEAN. North Quad integrates the coastal provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan; the land-locked province of Abra; and cool mountainous areas of Southern Benguet. The "BLIST" area of Southern Benguet includes Baguio City, and the towns o La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, and Tuba. The North Quad lies west of the massive Cordillera Mountains and north of the Central Luzon plains. VAST LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES The North Quad covers 17,980 square kilometers of land, almost 17 times bigger than Hong Kongs and 28 times larger than Singapores. This accounts for roughly 5.9 percent of the total land area of the Philippines. WHERE THE MOUNTAINS MEET THE SEAThe North Quad is an impressive region of sharp geographical; contrasts. It blends clear, blue seas; cool, high mountains; rolling terrain and fertile river plains. The North Quad is not only blessed with physical beauty, but with abundant natural resources as well. Mountainous areas are rich with metallic and non-metallic minerals, and they are recovered with a lushness that only virgin forests can provide. The fertile plains are suited to growing all kinds of food and commercial crops, making the region a major supplier of fruits and vegetables. Likewise, because of its long coastline, there is great potential for marine and deep-sea fishing. FAVORABLE CLIMATE There are two major seasons in the North Quad. The dry season, which runs from November to May, and the wet season, which runs from June to October. Among the areas in the North Quad, Southern Benguet enjoys a cool, temperate climate year round. |
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