CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- “The advocacy to develop the countryside is becoming fruitful and beneficial to the people.”
This was the analysis of Levy Laus, socio-civic leader and influential businessman Laus Group of Companies chairman and chief executive officer, who has long been advocating the development of the countryside.
During Thursday’s luncheon with Pampanga newsmen, Laus said that progress in North Luzon, particularly in Pampanga, is becoming visible and being felt through the strong economic activities over the years.
“Everything has shifted now. We, in the countryside, are becoming the envy of people in Metro Manila because of almost the same opportunities and economic activities without having to endure the traffic and expensive lifestyle,” he said.
He noted that in the automotive industry alone, car buyers in the countryside have already outnumbered those from Metro Manila from 10 percent to 90 percent some 40 years ago, to 55 percent to 45 percent, respectively, nowadays.
He cited the shift in economic activities brought about by the influx of investors, and the relevant change in the purchasing power of the countryside people as the biggest factor.
Laus also branded the Clark Freeport Zone and the soon-to-rise New Clark City as the epicenters of development in Central and Northern Luzon due to their strategic location and huge potential.
Meanwhile, Laus assured Kapampangans that progress in the countryside will never be twinned with severe traffic congestion just like what is experienced in the roads Metro Manila today.
He assured that a great number of roads are already in the pipeline through the national government’s Build, Build, Build program to address the traffic concerns and complement the said development.
Rooting from the recent transport meeting with Pampanga officials and stakeholders, Laus shared his confidence that existent and soon-to-rise road networks in the province can still cater to the demands of motorists and commuters.
“I am confident that even if we sell more and more cars in the next 30 years, traffic will never be our problem and we will never experience Metro Manila’s traffic dilemma because roads networks are being constructed left and right,” he said.