CREATION OF SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS HIGHWAY PUSHED
For: CustomsWeek Desk
attn: Inday Varona
c/o Bobby Nazareno
--------------------------
by: Terence Mordeno Grana
The country’s economic situation needs to reach and continue to grow at 6 - 8% annual real growth rate in order to generate the necessary employment thus improving the income distribution in the undeveloped countryside and eventually carry the nation into the ranks of the newly industrialized countries. Such a rate could only be achieved through a balanced development strategy of the government that would open virgin areas harmonizing ecological balance and development.
In this light, the House Committee on Public Works and Highways under the chairmanship of Baguio City Representative Bernardo M. Vergara, submitted Committee Report No. 6 containing House Bill No. 1149, the first bill ever reported out during the first regular session of the 11th Congress.
The Bill which is authored principally by Representative Facifico “Rico” M. Fajardo of the 3rd District of Nueva Ecija seeks for the creation of the Sierra Madre Super Express Highway which shall be financed, constructed, operated and maintained by a grantee/offeror/consortium/proponent under and by virtue of Republic Act No. 6957 otherwise known as the Build-Operate-Transfer Law.
Congressman Facifico explained in filing his measure, that roads, bridges, ports, harbors, and airports are the communication links between different municipalities, cities and provinces where the commercial transactions are made and the industrial estates are the centers of employment and production of goods.
These ingredients of development without which no country can expect to progress, he said, are some of the capital intensive infrastructure projects which the government, with its limited resources, has been attempting to replicate in target development areas and all these projects can be implemented only through the BOT Law.
In the Philippines where the annual per capita income is still only $715, he stressed, growth alone is not enough and therefor, it must be broad and it must be extended so that all the segments of society have the opportunity to participate and benefit. Our government thus, he continued, would need to provide roads and bridges to link the different town, cities and provinces and therefore entail passing through undeveloped or uninhabited areas and the private sector must also be enticed to participate in this strategy by offering them the opportunity to invest in the scheme.
This proposal seeks to provide for a new Super Expressway linking Metropolitan Manila to Regions I, II, III, IV, and V, passing through the Provinces of Bulacan, Neuva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Quezon, and the Bicol Region to eventually link with existing highways going to Regions I and II, utilizing the Sierra Madre as the main route. However, the Balintawak Exchange will be avoided in the plans because this route is heavily traversed by trucks, buses and other vehicles causing the delay in the transport of goods and passengers.
The solon added that this proposed measure is timely filed as it seeks to unleash the vast resources of the private sector to become a more vigorous partner in the nation building by contributing their financial and managerial resources.
The plenary deliberation of this measure is expected to commence immediately after the General Appropriations Law is passed.
- 30 -
attn: Inday Varona
c/o Bobby Nazareno
--------------------------
by: Terence Mordeno Grana
The country’s economic situation needs to reach and continue to grow at 6 - 8% annual real growth rate in order to generate the necessary employment thus improving the income distribution in the undeveloped countryside and eventually carry the nation into the ranks of the newly industrialized countries. Such a rate could only be achieved through a balanced development strategy of the government that would open virgin areas harmonizing ecological balance and development.
In this light, the House Committee on Public Works and Highways under the chairmanship of Baguio City Representative Bernardo M. Vergara, submitted Committee Report No. 6 containing House Bill No. 1149, the first bill ever reported out during the first regular session of the 11th Congress.
The Bill which is authored principally by Representative Facifico “Rico” M. Fajardo of the 3rd District of Nueva Ecija seeks for the creation of the Sierra Madre Super Express Highway which shall be financed, constructed, operated and maintained by a grantee/offeror/consortium/proponent under and by virtue of Republic Act No. 6957 otherwise known as the Build-Operate-Transfer Law.
Congressman Facifico explained in filing his measure, that roads, bridges, ports, harbors, and airports are the communication links between different municipalities, cities and provinces where the commercial transactions are made and the industrial estates are the centers of employment and production of goods.
These ingredients of development without which no country can expect to progress, he said, are some of the capital intensive infrastructure projects which the government, with its limited resources, has been attempting to replicate in target development areas and all these projects can be implemented only through the BOT Law.
In the Philippines where the annual per capita income is still only $715, he stressed, growth alone is not enough and therefor, it must be broad and it must be extended so that all the segments of society have the opportunity to participate and benefit. Our government thus, he continued, would need to provide roads and bridges to link the different town, cities and provinces and therefore entail passing through undeveloped or uninhabited areas and the private sector must also be enticed to participate in this strategy by offering them the opportunity to invest in the scheme.
This proposal seeks to provide for a new Super Expressway linking Metropolitan Manila to Regions I, II, III, IV, and V, passing through the Provinces of Bulacan, Neuva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Quezon, and the Bicol Region to eventually link with existing highways going to Regions I and II, utilizing the Sierra Madre as the main route. However, the Balintawak Exchange will be avoided in the plans because this route is heavily traversed by trucks, buses and other vehicles causing the delay in the transport of goods and passengers.
The solon added that this proposed measure is timely filed as it seeks to unleash the vast resources of the private sector to become a more vigorous partner in the nation building by contributing their financial and managerial resources.
The plenary deliberation of this measure is expected to commence immediately after the General Appropriations Law is passed.
- 30 -
posted by brodkaster43 at
7/19/2006 09:39:00 AM
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