CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – With the branding “Love Pampanga – Counter Magnet to Metro Manila”, the provincial government is bent to adopt the Pampanga megalopolis plan prepared by international architect-urban planner Felino A. Palafox Jr.
The megalopolis plan, including the “Pampanga Golden Triangle” (City of San Fernando to Lubao, Angeles City to Clark Freeport and Porac to Subic Bay Freeport), is poised to make a super city for Pampanga. It is an initiative of former President and now Second District Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
With this, Governor Lilia G. Pineda thanked Arroyo as she enjoined all stakeholders to help for the development of the Pampanga.
“Let us help one another for the development of Pampanga,” she said.
The governor vowed to promote Pampanga to the rest of the world in her remaining two years as a public official.
During the megalopolis’ last draft presentation on Friday at Kingsborough International Convention, third district Board Member Rosve Henson said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is set to file a resolution adapting the Megalopolis plan, including the possibility to integrate all cities and municipalities to evolve into sustainable growth centers.
He said the SP welcomes the high development potentials of Pampanga through several infrastructure projects to reinforce its purpose as an urban growth center.
Palafox and its associates presented before Governor Pineda, Rep. Arroyo, provincial mayors and top businessmen the last draft of the plan that includes sectoral studies in circumferential roads, mass transit system, tourism, water supply, flooding and agri-industrial estate.
Palafox cited the 5 to 10-year timeline of developing bulk water supply systems in Porac, Arayat, Lubao and Candaba that can help reduce risk by not depending on ground water.
Establishment of new tourist attractions such as the Floridablanca Stargazing Park and Astroscience Center, Lubao-Guagua Art District and Pampanga Tourism Center was also raised in the presentation.
Meanwhile, Rep. Arroyo urged the mayors to double their efforts in finalizing their allocated projects in their specific locale to confirm the intended budget for the Megalopolis plan.
She also said that the local officials had already conducted a visioning workshop of their intended plans for their respective towns and cities considering the terrain, population and local produce and resources. (Joel Mapiles/PNA)