MABALACAT CITY -- Pampanga Representative Joseller “Yeng” Guiao said recently that works are underway for the creation of the Metropolitan Clark Urban Development and Planning Authority which will address congestion and other problems the region will encounter in the coming years.
“We are fully aware and very well understand that the private sector in North and Central Luzon, like PamCham [Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.] has been strongly advocating for the decongestion of Metro Manila due to very logical reasons. And we would like to support that with the creation of the Metropolitan Clark Urban Development and Planning Authority as we see the advocacy already snowballing,” Guiao said.
He told Sun.Star Pampanga that the new “authority” will directly address future congestion in the province with the influx of investors relocating to Pampanga and government agencies decentralizing their offices from the National Capital Region to the north.
“What we see here is that once decongestion happens, which I am certain will happen, then tayo naman ang magkakaroon ng congestion. That will precisely be the function of the new authority. Aside from proper urban planning, the authority which we are now working on will also address the problems of traffic, waste management, infrastructure and even peace and order," the first district lawmaker said.
"It will all be in conjunction with business development which is actually taking place in Pampanga now. Already, the transfer of the Rizal Stadium and sports training center to Clark Freeport has been approved and will be done this year. We anticipate more developments to come."
He also noted that the proposed Metropolitan Clark Urban Development and Planning Authority will not only cover Clark and the First District cities of Angeles and Mabalacat and Magalang town, but other areas as well.
“The authority will encompass the City of San Fernando, Porac to as far as Bamban in Tarlac where developments are fast happening. As we advocate to decongest Metro Manila, we must also prepare to address congestion in these areas,” he said. (JTD)