|
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Gov't studies transfer of Malacañang to Clark
TAGUM CITY -- A study is being conducted on the possibility of transferring Malacañang to Clark, Pampanga along with most of the government centers, said Presidential Assistant for New Government Centers Rodolfo del Rosario.
Del Rosario said his office adjusted with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's plan for a transitory government from presidential to parliamentary-federal system.
The Palace official claimed some changes from the original plan of transferring government centers from Metro Manila to some of the key cities in the Visayas and Mindanao, though still very much aligned with Arroyo's vision.
Del Rosario admitted that with the looming political as well as economic crisis being experience at this time, the Office for New Government Centers and its programs are not given full-blown attention.
"We recognize that government agencies are really on a belt-tightening situation and we can not push them to transfer," he said.
The new cabinet secretary, who is also the former governor of Davao del Norte, claimed that the government is highly prioritizing other things, with less focus on the transfer of government centers.
"But it doesn't mean that the Office of New Government Centers is on vacation this time. We are working on the feasibility of transferring the seat of government to Clark," he said.
Del Rosario stressed that the very purpose of creating this move is to decongest Metro Manila, as manifested in Arroyo's 10-point agenda.
"We are trying to see the effectiveness of bringing Malacañang and most of the central offices in the government outside Manila."
Although he explained that initial plans of transferring the Department of Agriculture to Mindanao as well as the Department of Tourism to Cebu City would still push through.
"We will no longer transfer the whole of the central office to Mindanao, however, a satellite office will be built where the Undersecretary will hold office," he said.
This, del Rosario said, was all in-line with Arroyo's plan for a transitory government.
"Time will come when our government system will turn to federal and with this set-up, having satellite offices would definitely help prepare Mindanao and Visayas to govern their own states," he added. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(September 4, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Gambling money 'went to the poor'