Guv welcomes inclusion of Pampanga in top provinces

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Lilia Pineda has welcomed the inclusion of Pampanga in the list of top 10 provinces in the Philippines in terms of economic and business growth.

Pineda said this is the result of the consolidated efforts of all the local government officials, with the full cooperation of the business sectors and other private groups.

She said she is happy because Pampanga is now moving in the right direction as evidenced by the study conducted by Dr. Cid Terosa, UA&P School of Economics, titled “Market Potential and Prospects of Philippine Regions, Provinces and Cities.”

Pampanga ranked 6th in the top 10 list, aptly described as “ahead of the pack,” with a rating of 0.3983 based on its index of economic and business activity in 2011.

The index includes generation of taxes from local sources in 2010, construction activity that covers industrial, commercial and residential construction in 2011, and consumption activity measured by the number of Jollibee stores in 2012.

Pampanga and Bulacan -- which placed fourth with an index of 0.5283 -- are the only two provinces in Central Luzon that landed in the top 10 list.

"Siyempre masaya tayo dahil nakikita nila yung mga ginagawa natin dito sa probinsiya sa pamamagitan ng proyekto na pinakikinabangan at nagpapagaan sa buhay ng ating mga kababayan," she added.

The Provincial Government, through Governor Pineda, has spent at least P1.2 billion for the infrastructure projects in the province, including road access, hospitals, bridges, school buildings among others.

"Accessibility and continuing improvement of major roads in and out of the province had played vital in role convincing potential investors to entrust their resources here in Pampanga," she said.

Another thing that probably contributed to the economic turnaround of Pampanga is the previous declaration made by the Philippine Army that the province is already insurgency-free and is now being considered as a business hub in the country.

It was learned that the Provincial Government is closely working with various law enforcement agencies to make sure that the peace and order situation will get even better for the people and business sector.

Pineda provided the police with logistics, equipment and other support for them to be capable of guarding the general welfare of the Kapampangans.