The House Special Committee on North Luzon Growth Quadrangle chaired by Rep. Maximo Dalog (Lone District, Mountain Province) and Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization chaired by Rep. Mark Go (Lone District, Baguio City) have jointly approved a proposal to create the Northern Luzon Growth Quadrangle Development Authority which shall enhance socio-economic development in the provinces, cities and municipalities of Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
The approval of the proposal embodied in House Bill 4995 authored by Rep. Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano (1st District, Ilocos Sur) was done by the committees during a recent joint hearing.
The bill aims to hasten the socio-economic development of the provinces and cities of the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region and CAR by increasing trade, tourism and investments, encouraging private enterprise, generate jobs, develop infrastructures, and advancing efforts towards peace and expansion.
“The proposed Northern Luzon Growth Quadrangle Development Authority will be responsible for the overall policy direction, coordination and supervision of the entire development efforts of Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region and CAR,” said Savellano, a former governor of Ilocos Sur.
Savellano said the three regions, if developed together under a common framework of integrated and sustainable development, require a main coordinating body such as the Northern Luzon Growth Quadrangle Development Authority to effectively mobilize people in improving local industries.
“The people of Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region and CAR are rich with skilled manpower that can be tapped for economic growth and development for the area. With the skilled manpower, the proposed Authority aims to stimulate trade, investment and tourism activities, generate jobs, expand businesses and create export and domestic markets for local produce of the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley Regions and CAR with the hope of reducing poverty incidence and for advancement and progress,” said Savellano.
He said this will support the national leadership in achieving continuous programs and projects that would ensure sustained development for the three regions. “Hopefully, the proposed Authority will open avenues to expand their growth towards dealings with Asian countries and other parts of the globe,” said Savellano.
The Northern Luzon Growth Quadrangle Development Authority shall promote, coordinate and facilitate the active and extensive participation of all sectors to effect the socioeconomic development of the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley Region and the CAR.
