Press Release
April 5, 2018

SENATE PANEL HOLDS ANOTHER HEARING ON GORDON'S BILL AIMING TO CREATE AN INVESTMENT AND COMMERCIAL HUB IN CENTRAL LUZON

The Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises will hold another consultative hearing with stakeholders in Central Luzon in connection with Senator Richard J. 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 to region to have the economic activity that other countries benefit from.

The hearing will be held at the ASEAN Convention Center of the Fontana Resort Complex in Clark, Pampanga on April 6, 2018 at 11 am. Invited were officials of concerned departments; congressmen, governors, vice-governors, mayors of the different provinces and cities in the region; business groups and other stakeholders. Central Luzon is composed of the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

Gordon 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. He 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.

"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.

In the consultative hearing conducted in Subic last March 15, stakeholders committed to support Gordon's bill. Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras said it would provide alternative jobs and livelihood opportunities for overseas Filipino workers.

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