THINGS are going great and glitter to the prosperous and much improving province of Pampanga under the active smart and conscious leadership of outgoing Governor Lilia Pineda.
Hers is a very tough act to follow even by her heir apparent, Vice Governor Dennis Pineda who aspires to be the next Governor.
The bright idea known as the Megalopolis plan was conceptualized by former President and now Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the amiable governor.
It involves a 50-year comprehensive development project aimed to position Pampanga as the most ideal site to counter Metro Manila's problematic human and vehicular traffic congestion, with the help of renowned urban planner Felix Palafox, Jr., and his world-class team.
As presented in a spread in the April 5 issue of Sun Star Pampanga, the project is composed of Aerotropolis, Ecopolis, Agropolis and Aquapolis involving the province's 3 cities and 19 towns and aimed at maximizing all of their growth potentials.
Explained in said spread are the features of each segment, viz: Ecopolis is a cluster which is the center for environmental tourism, education and natural heritage, including the municipalities of Porac, Floridablanca, Arayat and Candaba; the Aquapolis, as the name implies, is the center for waterfront development and marine food production, composed of the municipalities of Minalin, Sasmuan, Macabebe and Masantol; the Aetropolis, which is airport-driven and serves a center for business logistics, technology, innovation and education, composed of the cities of Angeles, Mabalacat and San Fernando and the municipalities of Magalang and Mexico. The last feature-Agropolis should include Magalang, Mexico, Arayat, Sta. Ana, San Luis and Candaba for the agriculture produce of the province.
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Each town and city of the province has its Planning and Development Office and each should be consulted and coordinated with regarding the pertinent plan bearing on the Megalopolis project.
Mabalacat City has its City Planning and Development Office headed by Rosan Paquia, ESQ and the concurrent City Administrator. It should contribute valuable inputs to the Megalopolis project.
In sum, every town and city must be allowed to contribute plans and ideas to complement the very ambitious plan to make it more inclusive and comprehensive.