The Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises held another consultative hearing with stakeholders in Central Luzon in connection with Senator Dick Gordon’s bill which proposes to maximize the use of available infrastructures to unleash the economic potentials of the region.
Gordon, author of Senate Bill No. 1325 or the “Regional Investment and Infrastructure Corporation of Central Luzon,” said the bill aims to create opportunities and choices for Filipinos to give them quality life by consolidating the infrastructures, natural and human resources to enable the region to have the economic activity that other countries benefit from.
The hearing was held at the Pavilion, Hiyas Ng Bulacan Convention Center in Malolos City, Bulacan on May 17, 2018. The hearing was attended by Senator Joel Villanueva, congressmen who filed counter bills in the House of Representatives (HOR) such as Cong. Lorna Silverio, Cong, Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III and Cong. Jose Antonio Sy Alvarado.
Cong. Jesus Nonato Sacdalan, chairman of the House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization, also attended since the said hearing also served as the House committee’s hearing for the bills filed in Congress. Bulacan Vice Governor Daniel Fernando and mayors led by Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad also attended the hearing.
This was the third consultative hearing conducted for Senate Bill No. 1325. The first was conducted at the Subic Freeport Zone and the other was in Clark, Pampanga. Central Luzon is composed of the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.
Central Luzon is composed of the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.
The veteran legislator explained that maximizing the use of available infrastructures and resources to create an investment and commercial hub in their provinces would trigger the region’s economic development. The seasoned lawmaker added it could become the template that could be replicated in other regions of the country.
“This will disperse industries; create jobs, investments and tourism opportunities. Tourism zones, agricultural or industrial zones could be opened up, thus giving investors choice. The vision is to have investors opening up businesses on the idle lands along the highways. They will have incentives for providing houses for their workers at the back of the factories. Schools can be built there. This way, yung mga workers at ang mga bata magba-bike lang papunta sa trabaho at sa eskuwela. Lesser transportation expenses, lesser travel time, lesser stress and the workers will have more time with their families. Hospitals, churches, markets and banks could also be built. Then the community could later on become a financial center,” the senator said.
This will disperse industries; create jobs, investments and tourism opportunities. Tourism zones, agricultural or industrial zones could be opened up, thus giving investors choice. The vision is to have investors opening up businesses on the idle lands along the highways.
“The three airports in Manila, Subic and Clark; seaports in Subic, Mariveles and Manila; and highways available in Central Luzon will provide faster movement of trade. Madaling maglabas ng produkto sa bansa at magpasok ng raw materials dahil may magkakalapit na tatlong airports, tatlong seaports at highways. Speed is the name of the game. This will pump-prime the economy. We will create the West Philippine Sea to Pacific Ocean Economic Beltway,” he added.