Sen. Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva sought on Thursday the immediate passage of a bill creating the Regional Investment and Infrastructure Corp. (RIIC) of Central Luzon.
In a statement, Villanueva said he joined the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises hearing on the said measure chaired by Sen. Dick Gordon held at Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in Malolos, Bulacan, on Thursday.
Under Senate Bill (SB) 1325 filed by Gordon, the creation of the Central Luzon investment firm will decongest Metro Manila by dispersing industries to the Clark Freeport Zone, Freeport Area of Bataan, Subic Bay Freeport Zone and other Special Economic Zones, and promote foreign investment and infrastructure development in the region.
“This measure will significantly impact governance, way of doing business and, ultimately, the life of every Filipino here in Central Luzon, in all its seven provinces, most especially here in our beloved province of Bulacan,” said Villanueva who hails from Bulacan.
The solon also underscored that SB 1325 is an importance piece of legislation because it will create an investment and infrastructure corridor in Central Luzon to encourage investors to put up their businesses and attract entrepreneurs to open up business opportunities.
Central Luzon, particularly Bulacan, has lots of assets, let’s use them, Villanueva said in Tagalog. It would be a waste if we don’t benefit from our aim of easing the life of our compatriots, he added.
“Kailangan lang po ng mangangasiwa, itong RIIC [It only needs a manager, this RIIC],” Villanueva said. “Iyan po ang magiging daan para ma-maximize po natin ang ating mga imprastruktura” [The RIIC would be our vehicle so we can maximize our infrastructure].”
He believes the RIIC will revitalize the tempo of economic activities and reduce regional inequalities and usher socioeconomic development in Central Luzon.
“Pauusbungin po natin dito ang mga negosyo at trabaho para hindi na kailangang pumunta ng Metro Manila o mag-abroad pa ang ating mga kababayan para lang humanap ng trabaho [We will witness the birth of businesses and jobs so our compatriots wouldn’t need to go to Metro Manila or overseas].
He believes SB 1325, if passed, would make Central Luzon the country’s new job generator.