Poro Point ecozone intact as court junks land claim

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on Wednesday hailed a court ruling that dismissed a private firm’s claim to a prime 543-square-meter parcel of land within the Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ) in La Union.

The BCDA said that the Regional Trial Court in San Fernando, La Union has issued a decision that junks the petition for land registration of Shipside Inc. over a part of the 236.5-hectare economic hub.

“This legal affirmation strengthens BCDA’s mandate over the property and paves the way for the continued advancement of its strategic development initiatives in PPFZ,” the state firm said in a statement.

The BCDA, which oversees the PPFZ through its subsidiary Poro Point Management Corp., welcomed the ruling as a “critical milestone” in advancing the development of Northern Luzon.

Shipside claims that it and its predecessors have owned the land for several decades.

With the legal victory, the BCDA said the PPFZ was poised to become a key hub for tourism, logistics and investment.

Situated in San Fernando City, the ecozone is considered as a rapidly growing center for investments and tourism in Northern Luzon.

Within it is the San Fernando airport and seaport, which serve as vital gateways connecting the region to the rest of the country.

At the center of the ecozone is the 65-hectare Thunderbird Resorts, a Mediterranean-inspired luxury retreat that has helped put Poro Point on the map as a premier destination for leisure and relaxation.