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BY TIFFANY ANNE TAN
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BACOLOD City – Eugenio Jose Lacson is cool on the idea of making Negros Island Region the Philippines’ new seat of government — at least for now.
“Let us not get too excited,” the Negros Occidental vice governor said on Wednesday. “[If] it happens, then maybe we should be very happy.”
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has proposed relocating Malacañang, Senate, House of Representatives, and other key government offices to Negros.
While it may bring “positive development,” “probably right now it’s just an idea,” Lacson said. “Let’s wait for it to materialize.”
Besides, it will be “a long process” and “I’m sure other provinces would also want to offer their areas,” he added.
Meanwhile Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Negros Occidental, 3rd District) sought the creation of a commission that will study proposals to relocate state houses and government offices outside of Metro Manila.
Under House Bill No. 83, the seven-man Administrative Capital City Planning Commission shall create a comprehensive master plan for the establishment of the administrative city, including the suitable site, the agencies to be relocated and its financial feasibility.
Benitez said Cabinet members led by Department of Finance (DOF) secretary Carlos Dominguez are now poring over his proposal.
“We have ongoing consultations with the DOF on how much money is needed,” the chairman of the House committee on housing and urban development said in a radio interview on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
“This is to be fair to everyone, [but] the best location is the area which is in the center,” he said, referring to Negros. “If that pushes through, that is good for us.”
Metro Manila is already congested, and relocating state houses and government offices is seen to spread development, said Benitez./PN
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