Apung Tarzan filed on September 3 House Bill (HB) 2350 or “An Act converting the municipality of Mabalacat in the province of Pampanga into a component city to be known as the City of Mabalacat.”
Lazatin said he filed the bill for he believes Mabalacat is ready for cityhood and the time has come to declare it a component city in order to institutionalize programs and indispensable changes to keep it at pace with development.
In his explanatory note, Lazatin said the municipality has sufficient number of public utilities such as electricity, water system, communication facilities and cable television networks. It has 30 educational institutions that include secondary and college schools.
It now has 16 banking institutions, which are usually concentrated on Dau, its largest barangay and business hub, serving its financial needs and now enjoying 2,943 registered business establishments, which number continue growing, yielding substantial revenue to sustain its economic life, Lazatin added.
More so, with its proximity to Clark Freeport, industries continue to boom, which attract more migrants especially for job opportunities it generates. Indeed, Mabalacat has become one of the premiere investment spot in the country, added Lazatin.
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With the bill and its eventual passage, Mayor Boking would be earning for himself another right to be a Mayor of this bustling town. Not that I condone the multiple terms by any local official, but, will somebody please point to me a better alternative to Boking?
I think that the replacement’s parents have yet still to be born. The closest that can get to Boking is businessman Anthony Dee. But his philantrophical deeds are still chasing Boking’s accomplishments as a proven leader.
Tucked under Boking’s belt is a long list that include free high school, infrastructure (roads and bridges), medical and social welfare programs (out-of-school, senior citizens, etc). The list is long enough to bore out readers. Pardon the cut.
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Another reason why Mayor Boking is brandishing his patented smile is the fact that Mabalcat enjoys having the most direct access to the SCTEX -- one in Mabiga (via spur road and Nlex) and one via Tabun/Dolores in the northern tip.
I don’t really know how Boking convinced government planners and engineers to build those. But he should be the subject of envy.
Wanna know why? Other local leaders (and even CDC, CIAC and Secretary Edgardo Pamintuan of SCAD) are lockheads on where to exactly locate the interchange for Clark, Angeles City and Porac where the clamors can sometimes go ugly. I can picture Boking tipping off the dust from his shoulders as he sees the interchanges in his town to completion.
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From the way things are, the proposal of the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) is snowballing. It has earned two decent and deserving nod from the Provincial Board and the City Council of Angeles.
The interchange as proposed to be located between Manuali, Porac and Cauayan, Angeles City is the most practical, feasible and viable recommendation. The Presidential Management Staff has even hinted of the approval of the Chief Executive when in it officially labeled the project as “Porac-Angeles Interchange” in its communications and memos.
ADCL, through its leaders Rene Romero and Abong Tayag, are working hard to have this project for the benefit of hundreds of small and medium scale enterprises. They made clear though that they are not against other proposals by other leaders and agencies.
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If and when the interchange is built at ADCL’s proposed location, Angeles City and Porac should have Pampanga Vice Governor Yeng Guiao to thank for.
Guiao is instrumental in making President Arroyo have a closer look at the most viable proposal for the location of the interchange.
He said he has not asked anything in his life from the President. Not until he braved doing so last August 15 during the GMA’s visit to Clark. His efforts paid off. Good work vice guv.
