CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno proposed that there should be a cooperative for local government units to be a step closer to the Metropolitan Cagayan de Oro envisioned by the government by 2025.
In a meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday, April 30, local governments in Misamis Oriental and some parts of Bukidon can forge partnerships to help each other out to address concerns such as flooding, garbage collection and disposal, and traffic.
“The idea is mutual help, tulungan. For instance, may plano to open a road from Malitbog to Gingoog to Cagayan and that is going to be a major gateway, pero ang question, matapos ba yan in the next three to five years? So local government units need to have a common goal to push for this project,” he said.
The meeting is part of the Formulation of a Master Plan for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Development in Metropolitan Cagayan de Oro that was spearheaded by the regional office of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) Northern Mindanao.
Neda, in its Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, Cagayan de Oro City is seen as becoming the next metropolitan center in the country because of projected population growth and its functional role as major gateway and transshipment hub in Northern Mindanao.
Metro Cagayan de Oro will consist of Cagayan de Oro City and other municipalities like Jasaan, Villanueva, Tagoloan, Claveria, Opol, El Salvador, Alubijid, Laguindingan and Gitagum in Misamis Oriental; Libona, Manolo Fortich, Talakag, Baungon, Malitbog and Sumilao in Bukidnon.