Arroyo to give North Luzon mega-region P75 billion
Concept draws cheers, jeers
By Maila Ager, Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, Inquirer
At a joint meeting of her Cabinet and the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) of the mega-region, Arroyo said the 75 billion pesos will be spread over three years to implement plans and programs earmarked for North Luzon, which covers Regions 1, 2 and the Cordillera Autonomous Region, plus Aurora and Nueva Ecija.
The other mega regions are Metro Luzon (Regions 3, 4A, and National Capital Region), Central Philippines (Regions 4-B and Regions 5 to 8), and Mindanao (Regions 9 to 13 and the Autonomous Regions in Muslim Mindanao).
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the 25 billion pesos fund for North Luzon, covering the first year, will be included in the 2007 budget.
A staunch Arroyo supporter in the House of Representatives lauded the concept and said it was a step towards federalism and taking the occasion to make a pitch for amending the constitution.
But two opposition solons saw the mega-regions as a ploy by the President to tighten her hold on large geographical areas.
While Arroyo acknowledged North Luzon’s other industries such as tourism, she said that, “by and large, if we look at Northern Luzon as a whole, the strongest way to fight poverty is to concentrate agri-business investments in this area.”
The President said implementing the mega-regions concept would bring “education all over the country” as well as encourage investments such as “logistics investments, expressways and ports in the urban beltway that will extend from Subic (to) Clark to Metro Manila to Batangas Port; business outsourcing in areas of the north like Baguio, in areas of the south like Cebu and Davao; tourism investments in the Visayas, Palawan and Bicol; and agri-business in Mindanao and Northern Luzon to name a few.”
"On my part, I am concentrating on protecting our gains in many crucial areas and aligning with the regions as opposed to imperial Metro Manila," she said.
Arroyo also said that when she delivers her state of the nation address next month, “rather than discussing the administration's usual central (and) national point of view, we shall discuss the programs and vision of government from the perspective of the RDC and other regional institutions.”
Meanwhile, House Majority Floor Leader Prospero Nograles, referring to the mega-regions’ being the precursor to the creation of federal states, said, “Yes, that’s where it’s at,”
"Charter change is the first step toward federal that's why Senator (Aquilino) Pimentel, the father of federalism, should join us in this quest," Nograles said in a text message.
Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, however, viewed the proposal as a ploy by Arroyo to consolidate her control over geographical areas.
"It's a counter move because it's easier to control the people under that system," Ocampo said.
The mega-regions concept also did not sit well with Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez.
"With (the) mega-regions and retaining (the) present regions, it adds another layer of coordination and supervision. Now, (the chain runs) from the President to (the) region to (the) provinces to towns to supervise priority programs. With mega-regions, another layer is added," Golez said in a text message.
But Golez doubted if the concept would lead to federalism.
"I don’t know about federal,” he said. “Like, why should Region 3 want to be grouped with NCR (National Capital Region), which by itself is a mega-region population and income-wise?" he pointed out.
By Maila Ager, Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, Inquirer
At a joint meeting of her Cabinet and the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) of the mega-region, Arroyo said the 75 billion pesos will be spread over three years to implement plans and programs earmarked for North Luzon, which covers Regions 1, 2 and the Cordillera Autonomous Region, plus Aurora and Nueva Ecija.
The other mega regions are Metro Luzon (Regions 3, 4A, and National Capital Region), Central Philippines (Regions 4-B and Regions 5 to 8), and Mindanao (Regions 9 to 13 and the Autonomous Regions in Muslim Mindanao).
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the 25 billion pesos fund for North Luzon, covering the first year, will be included in the 2007 budget.
A staunch Arroyo supporter in the House of Representatives lauded the concept and said it was a step towards federalism and taking the occasion to make a pitch for amending the constitution.
But two opposition solons saw the mega-regions as a ploy by the President to tighten her hold on large geographical areas.
While Arroyo acknowledged North Luzon’s other industries such as tourism, she said that, “by and large, if we look at Northern Luzon as a whole, the strongest way to fight poverty is to concentrate agri-business investments in this area.”
The President said implementing the mega-regions concept would bring “education all over the country” as well as encourage investments such as “logistics investments, expressways and ports in the urban beltway that will extend from Subic (to) Clark to Metro Manila to Batangas Port; business outsourcing in areas of the north like Baguio, in areas of the south like Cebu and Davao; tourism investments in the Visayas, Palawan and Bicol; and agri-business in Mindanao and Northern Luzon to name a few.”
"On my part, I am concentrating on protecting our gains in many crucial areas and aligning with the regions as opposed to imperial Metro Manila," she said.
Arroyo also said that when she delivers her state of the nation address next month, “rather than discussing the administration's usual central (and) national point of view, we shall discuss the programs and vision of government from the perspective of the RDC and other regional institutions.”
Meanwhile, House Majority Floor Leader Prospero Nograles, referring to the mega-regions’ being the precursor to the creation of federal states, said, “Yes, that’s where it’s at,”
"Charter change is the first step toward federal that's why Senator (Aquilino) Pimentel, the father of federalism, should join us in this quest," Nograles said in a text message.
Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, however, viewed the proposal as a ploy by Arroyo to consolidate her control over geographical areas.
"It's a counter move because it's easier to control the people under that system," Ocampo said.
The mega-regions concept also did not sit well with Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez.
"With (the) mega-regions and retaining (the) present regions, it adds another layer of coordination and supervision. Now, (the chain runs) from the President to (the) region to (the) provinces to towns to supervise priority programs. With mega-regions, another layer is added," Golez said in a text message.
But Golez doubted if the concept would lead to federalism.
"I don’t know about federal,” he said. “Like, why should Region 3 want to be grouped with NCR (National Capital Region), which by itself is a mega-region population and income-wise?" he pointed out.
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