NEGROS Occidental Representative Alfredo Benitez (3rd district) has filed House Bill No. 83 for the creation of an Administrative Capital City Planning Commission (ACCPC) that will be tasked to study the proposed relocation of most government agencies outside Metro Manila.
Benitez filed the resolution after House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez proposed to transfer key government offices like the Malacañang and the two branches of Congress to Negros.
He said that when President Rodrigo Duterte visited Bacolod last month, Alvarez relayed to him his proposal to transfer the seat of government capital to Negros.
“This is to be fair to everyone as the best location is the area which is in the center. If that pushes through that is good for us,” he said. “The idea makes sense because Metro Manila is already very congested.”
“Traffic and population is terrible. It is also practical to first move the government offices. It will also develop the area where it will be transferred,” Benitez added.
Benitez’s proposal aims to organize a seven-man commission tasked to draw a comprehensive masterplan for the establishment of administrative city, including identification of suitable site, the agencies to be relocated, and its financial feasibility.
Benitez said that his proposal is now the subject of consultations among Cabinet men led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.
“We have ongoing consultations with the DOF on how much money is needed to transfer government agencies to provinces,” he said.
‘Let's not get too excited’
Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Negrenses should “not get too excited” with the idea of moving the seat of government and state offices to Negros Island Region to decongest Metro Manila and fast track development in the Visayas.
“When it happens, we should be very happy. It’s good for us,” Lacson said, adding that it’s a very positive development for Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
However, right now it’s just an idea, “let’s wait for it to materialize,” he added.
Lacson said he believes the process would take some time. (With reports from MPE)