THE man brims with ideas and thoughts.
They are not just full of sense but are also adaptable and timely.
There is no dull moment being with Rene Romero. In fact, he always brings worth to one’s while. He unselfishly shares not only his thoughts and experiences but also his life. What was originally planned to be a short visit became a lengthy discussion that imbibed some valuable insights.
Inspiring moments at that.
Growing up, he and their family escaped the fangs of poverty and turn it into one of the most beautiful success stories. How he toiled the ground, walked to school, supported himself to study. Little did I know that he also burned the midnight oil playing in bands (combos in the 70s), moving from one club to another to delight crowd while he eked a living.
The rest was (success) history.
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The chairman of Romac, one of the biggest manpower providers in the country today, just know how it is to till hard and arid lands to plant seeds of triumphs. Now, he is reaping fruits of what he has sown.
And reaping he does not just for himself but also for those in and out of his sphere – family, relatives, friends, former classmates, communities and even us in media practice.
At the time of this writing, Mr. Romero has prepared check donation for his alma mater Jose Abad Santos High School in the name of his Batch. I will not say the year as that may reveal his age. I will not also mention how much as he has no idea that such Samaritan act would see print.
Suffice it to say that the amount is something you don’t see often just written away for a public school. Suffice it to say that it is a good amount that could fund two classrooms filled with audio-video equipment and computers. Something that is necessary in today’s modes of learning.
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Diminutive he may seem but the respectable business leader is big in many ways. He has earned the respect of peers and the business community with his lofty positions in the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Regional Development Council, to name a few.
As good looking as he is, his ideas and perspectives are also insightful. For one, he has a solution to the diminishing lands for investment projects inside Clark Freeport.
He identified the hilly portions where SCTEX traverses in the adjoining towns of Porac and Floridablanca that are suitable for tourism and agriculture projects. The flat lands on the opposite side, he said, will be ideal for light industries.
These, therefore creates new growth corridors that will be parallel to the the tollroad. Thus, these also open up new opportunities for progress in nearby communities.
“With Clark being said to be saturated and that there are no more lands for lease to investors, there is a vast portion in Pampanga that is ripe for development,” Romero said.
“The government must take a closer look at these areas and probably come up with the best agreements such as joint venture where these lands can be utilized for investment and livelihood opportunities,” he added.
With a new administration set to commence by June 30, he said that he is hoping that this project, as proposed from many years ago, would be given another look.
“We are glad that former President Arroyo has always been around to lead the development programs and projects for Pampanga and Central Luzon. This proposal, I believe, is also aligned to her megalopolis vision.
“This will also boost efforts to push for greater progress of Clark, Subic and the towns and cities surrounding these Freeports,” Romero said.
Romero is one of the founders of Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon, a multisectoral group that has been instrumental in pushing for projects in infrastructure, environment protection, and economic development.