ZC's readiness for massive retail establishments and
investments or lack of it depends greatly on how the city's strengths are
capitalized and weaknesses effectively (and not superficially addressed).
Strengths:
(1) Huge land area. Opportunity:
Expansive agricultural productivity.
Economic Underpinnings in current situation: The farmers are
the poorest among the poor. Conclusion: Mismanaged or neglected
(2) Vast and rich
municipal/territorial waters.
Potential: Unlimited fishing and aquaculture productivity
Economic Underpinnings in current situation: The fisherfolks
and the vast majority of aquaculture and fish production and industries
stakeholders are also among the poorest among the poor.
Conclusion: Lacking pro-active attention
(3) Climatic favorability
Opportunity: less vulnerability and expenditure consequent
to climatic rampaging.
Current Situation: Not spared by flooding and tidal surges.
Conclusion: Taken for granted characterized by poor urban
planning
Weaknesses:
(1) Relative
negative security perceptions.
Threats: constant threat of all forms of criminality.
Current Situation: Rising crime rate
Conclusion: Addressed with mediocrity if not frigidity.
(2) Great Distances
Threats: Challenging Transport infrastructure and systems.
Current Situation: Tiresome and boring land and sea
transport
Conclusion: Overlooked
Chances: (a) State of the art transport systems and
infrastructure (b) Spatial developments (c) Rural Productivity (d) Industrial
competitiveness.
Final Conclusion: If and when ZC's farmers, fishermen,
seaweeds growers, rubber plantation workers, forest products gatherers and
factory workers can already afford even just a little higher living standards
than they have today, everything else can (though not automatically will)
follow.
