Citing floods in Metro Manila: Marañon calls for relocation of industries to the provinces

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — In the light of heavy floods that struck Metro Manila last week, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has called on “Imperial Manila” to “rethink its development strategy” by relocating its industries to the provinces.

If the national government makes it a policy to develop the countryside and disperse the industries to the provinces, the people who make up the large illegal settlers populace of Metro Manila would be encouraged to return to their respective provinces, he said.

Marañon made this statement at the recent meeting of the Provincial Development Council, where he also gave an update on the achievements and progress of the provincial government in the implementation of its NEGROS FIRST Development Agenda.

Negros Occidental has been playing a key role in food production in the country, as validated by the Department of Agriculture, said the governor.

DA-6 regional director Larry Nacionales noted that the high production of rice in Negros Occidental is due to the big budget allocated for agriculture by the provincial government. — (FREEMAN)