The local officials of the Provincial Government of Bulacan have shown their support for Senate Bill No. 1325 creating an investment corridor in Central Luzon during the public hearing held recently at The Pavilion, Hiyas ng Bulakan Convention Center in the City of Malolos.
The hearing was led by Senator Richard Gordon joined by Bulakenyo Senator Joel Villanueva with the local officials of Bulacan headed by Vice Governor Daniel Fernando and the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines-Bulacan Chapter led by Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio “Boy” Cruz Jr. together with First District Representative Congressman Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado and Third District Congresswomman Lorna Silverio.
The Bulacan LGUs vowed to support the bill wherein Villanueva, a Bulakenyo sought immediate passage of the bill as he joined the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises hearing on the said measure chaired by Sen. Gordon.
Also present during the hearing were City of Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad, Pulilan Mayor Maritz Ochoa, Baliwag Mayor Ferdie Estrella and Sta Maria Mayor Russel Pleyto.
The public hearing on a bill creating the Regional Investment and Infrastructure Corporation (RIIC) of Central Luzon would extend tax incentives to companies and utilize the area to help ease the traffic currently weighing down the Metro Manila area.
Senate Bill No. 1325 filed by Gordon, would lead to the creation of the Central Luzon investment corporation that will decongest Metro Manila by dispersing industries to the Clark Freeport Zone, Freeport Area of Bataan, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and other Special Economic Zones and promote foreign investment and infrastructure development in the region.
The RIIC aims to attract more foreign investors by way of having a road network system that will interconnect airports and seaports in Luzon, Gordon said.
The senator added that Central Luzon is the only region in the country that has three airports like New York, referring to Manila, Clark and Subic.
“This measure will significantly impact governance, way of doing business and ultimately, the life of every Filipino here in Central Luzon, in all its seven provinces, most especially here in our beloved province of Bulacan,” Sen. Villanueva said.
Villanueva underscored that Senate Bill No. 1325 is an importance piece of legislation because it will create an investment and infrastructure corridor in Central Luzon to encourage investors to put up their businesses and attract entrepreneurs to open up business opportunities.
Villanueva further stressed that the RIIC will revitalize the tempo of our economic activities and of course, reduce regional inequalities and usher socio-economic development in Central Luzon.
During the hearing, Vice Gov. Fernando suggested to the committee chair to further study and see to it that actions that will be made must be balance particularly the conversion of agricultural land to industrial. –ELOISA SILVERIO