CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Megalopolis, Pampanga’s blueprint master development plan was officially turned over by Architect Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr and Ramon Ang represented by Atty. Peter Suchianco to Governor Lilia Nanay Pineda, Vice Governor Dennis Delta Pineda, and former President now Congresswoman Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo yesterday in a ceremony held at Laus Group Event Center, here.
Ang, president and chief executive officer of San Miguel Corporation funded the formulation of Megalopolis plan in the amount of P22-million but Palafox gave a 50 percent discount of P11-million for the realization of the Megalopolis plan.
The turn-over ceremony was witnessed by the provincial board members, city and municipal mayors, vice mayors, officers and members of Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAMCHAM), department heads of the Capitol, local and national media.
Governor Pineda was thankful for the official turnover of the Pampanga Megalopolis Plan for 50 years with an estimated budget of more than P200-billion is believed to be the strongest counter-magnet to Metro Manila.
Palafox, principal architect-urban planner of the Palafox Associates said the Pampanga Megalopolis Plan is a comprehensive development plan that seeks to address major issues and challenges to optimize the potentials of the province as an urban growth center.
Governor Pineda said on behalf of the people of Pampanga, she wholeheartedly and happily accepted the Pampanga Megalopolis
Personal na tinatanggap ko rin ang kaakibat na responsibilidad na tiyakin ng maayos at epektibong pagsasakatuparan nito,” she added.
Governor Pineda also mentioned in her speech that she will hand the plan to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for approval and will suggest creating a Project Management and Investment Promotions Unit under the office of the governor.
The Pampanga Megalopolis is composed of various metropolitan areas and is clustered into four building blocks namely: Aerotropolis (airport-driven cluster: Angeles City, City of San Fernando, Mabalacat City and Mexico), Agropolis (agriculture-driven cluster: Lubao, Guagua, Sta. Rita, Bacolor, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit, Santo Tomas, Sta. Ana and Magalang), Aqualopolis (water-drive cluster: Sasmuan, Macabebe, Minalin, Masantol and Lubao) and Ecopolis (ecology-driven cluster: Arayat, Candaba, Floridablanca and Porac) each towns and cities possess its own strengths to pursue both local and foreign investors.
Development needs for each of these metropolitan clusters have been identified and would then be addressed through implementation of proposed projects, including but not limited to: Transportation and road infrastructure, alternative corridor and transportation improvement measures for McArthur highway, tourism projects at uplands and wetlands, integrated water resources and water supply planning, disaster resilience and flood protection and agro-industrial development zones.
By: Leslie Anne Mahusay
