P&A Grant Thornton bets on Central Luzon growth with Clark hub

Insider Spotlight

• P&A Grant Thornton expands into Clark to deepen its presence in one of the country's fastest-growing investment corridors
• The move reflects rising demand for audit, tax, advisory, and outsourcing services as Central Luzon attracts more businesses
• The firm says the expansion will support regional talent development while bringing professional services closer to clients
  
  

For P&A Grant Thornton, its newest office in Pampanga is less about adding another address and more about positioning itself where investment and business activity continue to accelerate, underscoring Central Luzon's growing importance as an economic hub.

The professional services firm has established a new office inside the Clark Freeport Zone, extending its network beyond Makati, Davao, Cebu, and Cavite. The expansion aims to make its audit, tax, advisory, and outsourcing services more accessible to businesses across Central and Northern Luzon, the company said in a release.

Why it matters 

Clark has emerged as one of the country's leading business and investment destinations, with increasing activity across manufacturing, logistics, real estate, and services. By locating within the freeport, P&A Grant Thornton is positioning itself closer to clients while tapping opportunities created by the region's sustained economic growth.

During the June 26 inauguration, Punongbayan & Araullo co-founder Jose G. Araullo reflected on the firm's three-decade journey and the principles that shaped its expansion.

“When Ben Punongbayan and I started the firm in 1988, at the very start, we inculcated our work with dedication and integrity. I remember the time when other firms were saying that we would not last three months,” Araullo said.

“But today, we are still here bringing our expertise to businesses and serving communities and our people for more than 30 years. I am so happy that our virtues of dedication and integrity continue to be the compass of the present generation of P&A leaders until now,” he added.

The big picture 

P&A Grant Thornton chairman and managing partner Romualdo V. Murcia III said the Clark office strengthens the firm's ability to serve organizations across Central and Northern Luzon.

“Today is more than the opening of a new office. It's a meaningful step forward in our journey as a firm, bringing us closer to the clients we serve, the communities we support, and the people who will shape our future,” Murcia said.

Romualdo V. Murcia III 

P&A Grant Thornton chair and managing partner

“By establishing our presence here in Pampanga, we reaffirm our commitment to be more accessible, more expansive, and more deeply connected to the needs of organisations across Central and Northern Luzon and beyond,” he said.

The firm, which employs more than 1,500 professionals, said the Pampanga office will also help create career opportunities in the region while expanding its capacity to deliver client services closer to local markets. —Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma