BACOLOD CITY — Negros Occidental’s 3rd District Rep. Francisco Benitez led the move to create an integrated development plan for the five local government units (LGUs) under his area of jurisdiction.
These include the cities of Talisay, Silay, Victorias, and the municipalities of Murcia and EB Magalona.
“I challenge everyone to be up to the task of putting together the comprehensive and integrated plan that will be the important development roadmap for Metro Third,” Benitez said during the consultative and exploratory meeting at Nature’s Village Hotel in Talisay on Friday.
During the meeting, the lawmaker, local chief executives, and planning officers were joined by Director Ro-ann Bacal of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) 6 (Western Visayas).
Bacal cited the rich potential of the district in terms of road expansions, agri-tourism, cultural and heritage sites, as well as the intensive biodiversity of the Northern Negros Natural Park.
“Update your comprehensive land use plans that are most basic and critical to the development planning process,” she told the LGUs.
The meeting was also attended by mayors Mark Golez of Silay, Francis Frederick Palanca of Victorias, Marvin Malacon of EB Magalona, and Gerardo Roxas of Murcia.
The third district is currently thriving with developments, including the multi-billion residential property boom in Talisay located just next to Bacolod City.
Talisay is also home to tourist favorite “The Mariano Lacson Mansion”, popularly known as the “The Ruins”.
Meanwhile, Silay, which hosts the Bacolod-Silay Airport, is also known for its heritage homes and mountain resorts in Patag.
The 41.4-km., PHP25-billion Bacolod-Victorias coastal road project, which will start in Barangay Banago, Bacolod, traversing across Talisay, Silay, EB Magalona, and end in Barangay 13, Victorias, is expected to commence next year.
(Nanette Guadalquiver ndb via pna)