ANGARA FILES BILL ESTABLISHING AURORA'S ROLE
AS THE PACIFIC'S PREMIER GATEWAY

As the country weathers the worst financial crisis since the great depression, Aurora remains resilient and is gradually attaining status as the Pacific's prime investment hub.

"Aurora is ideal for agri-fisheries development with its fertile soil and mountains, vast coastlines and steady rainfall., it has its natural growth potentials, blessed with a Hawaii-like weather that results to abundant natural resources and rich collection of flora and fauna," said Angara a proud son of Baler Aurora

He added, "with ongoing infrastructure development linking Aurora and other nearby provinces to the rest of the country, these resources could be better tapped for economic uplift."

Such projects include the Baler-Casiguran Road, the Pantabangan- Maria Aurora Road, two airports and two seaports.

Aurora's progress takes shape as major infrastructure projects are underway, including the completion of the Economic Zone's offices in Aurora and in Clark. Angara emphasized that, "to keep up with the region's fast-paced development and the present-day challenges, the Economic Zone must be better equipped."

Senate Bill 3408 which Angara recently filed proposes the following changes:

• Renaming Aurora Special Economic Zone to "Aurora Pacific Economic Zone Authority" (APEZA) to establish Aurora's role as the Pacific's premier gateway;

• Providing APEZA with a compensation plan comparable with other authorities and corporations of similar nature such as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Bases Conversion and Developnient Authority (BCDA) and the private sector. This aims for a better management by attracting best talents to APEZA's pool of human resources.

• Forming a corporate body, the Aurora Development Corporation (ADC), to be the operating and implementing arm of the APEZA and manage and expedite implementation of the various projects in the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone.

Infrastructure along with better economic management will establish Aurora as gateway to the Pacific-unlocking the resource-rich and fertile areas of Southern Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya and Aurora.

"The natural wealth of Aurora-its people and resources in forests, seas, mountains, coral reefs, and unique flora and fauna-hinges an advantageous position for economic development in the Pacific region and with APEZA's management, the dawning of Aurora as the Pacific gateway is in the horizon," ended Angara.