Federalism: Part II

There is no doubt that Central Luzon will give the Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao a strong competition should Sen. Aquilino Pimentel’s proposed resolution for a federal form of government be realized.

Central Luzon’s biggest advantage among all other proposed federal states is its strategic location and its potential to become a mega-logistics hub in Asia. For sometime now since former Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president Rufo Colayco started the concept of linking Subic and Clark and eventually Dingalan Seaport in Aurora, many private sector groups have supported the national government’s vision for Central Luzon.

Now with the idea of making this region a totally independent and autonomous state, many private sector leaders become more excited, even counting numerous possibilities for Central Luzon’s imminent transformation into an economic tiger in Southeast Asia. We could be the net Singapore is we play our cards right.

As soon as the Tarlac-La Union Expressway be constructed, the private sector groups are eying for the construction of the Tarlac-Nueva Ecija-Aurora Expressway. This expressway would link Dingalan, Casiguran and Baler seaport to Luista, Clark and Subic and the mega-logistics hub will be completed. Advocates for development like the Pampanga Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Clark Investors and Locators Association and the Advocacy for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL) believe that Central Luzon is more than ready to face the challenge of Pimentel.

Central Luzon will reap all the benefits if it will be declared as an autonomous state. ADCL chairman Rene Romero has long been saying that with the completion of the expressways linking Central Luzon’s east (Pacific via Aurora) and west (South China Sea via Subic and Masinloc) coasts, we would be able to compete with Hongkong and Singapore as the new mega logistics hub for industries moving cargo from US and Australia to Asia.

If run by an autonomous state, the two largest ecozones in Clark and Subic will also reap huge income and investments for Central Luzon. At present, both ecozones have the largest investors in the country including Texas Instrument, Fedex, AOL, Hanjin and others. On top of their production, we also have the Luisita Industrial Park, Hermosa Economic Zone, Masinloc Industrial Zone, Mabalacat Industrial Zone, all of these will contribute to the federal state economic performance.

Meanwhile, the state-of-the-art government center in Bulacan will soon be completed since it is listed in the priority projects of the Regional Development Council (RDC) for the years 2008-2010. Bulacan could be the seat of the Federal State of Central Luzon where the offices of the state administrative agencies would be located. Clark or Pampanga could be the financial center while Nueva Ecija could retain its role as the research, science and development seat of the federal state. We have existing facilities and institutions like the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) and the Science City of Munoz.

Central Luzon is also a host to the best minds, technocrats and tycoons in the country. We have the likes of Danding Cojuangco, Sen. Edgardo Angara, Jose “Ping” de Jesus, Josie Dela Cruz, Tong Payumo, Victor Jose “Chichos” Luciano, Presidential Assistant Rellie Fajardo, Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and more.

In the near future, Central Luzon would become a Center of Excellence for human resource development. Sen. Angara recently took the suggestion of ADCL to establish a 1,000 hectare center for academic institutions. The idea is to build a center that will house the best schools that would provide top courses for Central Luzon’s demand in various industries like aviation, information technology, engineering, arts, architecture, agriculture and others. We could invite the University of the Philippines, Ateneo, Philippine Aeronautical College, and other universities abroad to lease part of the 1,000-hectare center for the establishment of their own facilities. The region needs to develop more skilled and intellectual workers to sustain the demand of growing industries and investments in the area.

Central Luzon has also a huge potential in tourism. It has natural landscapes to offer in Aurora and Zambales. It also has the best urban havens in Olongapo, Angeles City and Subic. Tarlac, on the other hand, offers the religious pilgrimage sites while Bulacan and Bataan are famous for their historical landmarks.

And the most important advantage that Central Luzon has is its stability for food security. Being the rice granary of the country, Region 3 controls the volume of rice production and has enough lands for agriculture. Aurora, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac could maintain the balance to the growing industries in Pampanga, Zambales, Bataan and Bulacan. Our region has the potential to become an agri-product exporting federal state. We have agricultural geniuses in our midst. A company inside Clark is already exporting freezed mangoes to US and Europe while Rene Tayag of Angeles is already exporting Tilapia fillet abroad. Our best agricultural products including processed meats and marine products reach the four corners of the world.

So whose afraid of federalism? Definitely not us. Central Luzon is a region everyone around the country should carefully consider. If Pimeltel’s idea be realized, we would surely give others a tough competition. But more, our people will truly reap the fruits of our region’s blessings. It would mean more jobs, comfortable living and better future for our children. (30)