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Sunday, October 03, 2004
Traders see bright future with infra thrusts
By Albert B. Lacanlale
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Local traders see a brighter future for North Luzon with the various infrastructure development drives of President Arroyo.
Rene Romero, vice-president of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PamCham) and Regional Development Council (RDC) private sector representative, said local businessmen are currently eyeing the economic boost Malacañang's four major infrastructure projects could provide.
Romero said the near completion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) rehabilitation project, and the upcoming implementation of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Project (SCTEP), North Rail Transit and the expansion of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) would spell the much-awaited development for Pampanga, as well as the entire North Luzon.
Romero said the DMIA expansion announced recently by no less than President Arroyo, could jumpstart the economic activities in the area surrounding the airport, all the way up to the northern stretches of the country.
On Tuesday, Arroyo led the time-capsule-laying ceremony earmarking P2 billion of the DMIA expansion.
Romero said the President's bid to develop DMIA would bring a huge impact to the economy, increasing the employment opportunities for the local folk, and offer easier trip for the more than 38 percent of the country's total Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).
"At present, international airline companies are still having second thoughts in using DMIA since it cannot handle huge aircrafts. But with the expansion, we could expect more flights in and out of Clark," he explained.
The DMIA expansion, Romero added, complements the SCTEP, which, after a series of delays, would be implemented.
Unlike SCTEP, however, Romero said the DMIA expansion will be funded by two government agencies - the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) - making the prospect of its realization brighter.
Romero said that the local business sector is also lobbying for the immediate construction of the North Railway Transit, which would offer a more convenient and faster travel from Manila up to northern provinces, and the improvement of the Manila North Road or MNR (commonly known as MacArthur Highway) from Caloocan City to the province of Tarlac.
He explained that with the apparent increase in toll fees in the NLEx, motorists and commuters should be given alternate routes and conveyance to reach their destinations at lesser cost.
Romero said the MNR, once improved would not only benefit motorists who could not afford to pay the NLEx toll fees, but also the small and medium enterprises along the highway.
He said small businesses would flourish once the MNR becomes more active.
"With all these infrastructure projects in place, there would be no reason for Pampanga and the rest of Northern Philippines not to become an international business hub in the future," Romero said.
(October 3, 2004 issue)
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