CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – With a robust 6.5 percent economic growth in 2024, Central Luzon is poised to sustain its momentum through a lineup of high-impact infrastructure and innovation-driven projects.
During the Regional Dissemination Forum for the 2024 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Regional Director Nerrisa Esguerra emphasized the importance of laying the groundwork for inclusive and long-term development.
“Growth must be resilient, inclusive, and innovation-led. We should ensure that gains are not only sustained but are also felt by every sector of society,” she said.
She also cited the region’s P2.47 trillion GRDP output, which maintained Central Luzon’s position as the third-largest contributor to the national economy.
Esguerra said the region’s performance was driven by the continued recovery of key sectors and the completion of vital infrastructure projects.
Among these are the Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Project Phase I in Pampanga and the Plaridel Bypass Road Phase III in Bulacan, both of which improved access and resilience in critical areas.
She added that the region is looking to fast-track several transformative projects under the Regional Development Investment Program including the Central Luzon Link Expressway, New Manila International Airport, North-South Commuter Railway, MRT-7, Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, Capas-Botolan Road, and the Dalton Pass East Alignment Road.
Meanwhile, Esguerra also highlighted the significance of innovation, research and development, and stronger academe-industry linkages in boosting regional productivity.
“Investments in innovation and upskilling are vital to make our workforce future-ready and support high-value industries,” she noted.
In terms of agriculture, the director acknowledged the sector’s slight decline by 0.3 percent, but underscored continuing interventions such as the Central Luzon Integrated Agricultural Laboratory, swine repopulation and African Swine Fever vaccination programs, and mechanization initiatives led by the Department of Agriculture.
The upcoming midterm updating of the Central Luzon Regional Development Plan will prioritize strategies that are responsive to global shifts, technological disruptions, and climate resilience. (CLJD/MJSC,PIA Region 3-Pampanga)