Quezon dad pushes formation of development clusters

By Zen Trinidad

May 28, 2018, 8:29 pm

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna-- Quezon Governor David Suarez has pushed for the formation of development clusters that will work to maximize potential areas of developments in the province.

In a message received Monday, the Provincial Information Office (PIO) disclosed that Suarez, during the 2nd Provincial Development Council Meeting on Thursday (May 24) in Lucena City, has identified development potentials in various districts of the province.

He said that potential areas of development include tourism, agriculture, commercial, heavy industries, airport, education, fisheries and minerals.

He said that there is a proposal pending in the House of Representatives for the creation of seven districts of the province that will form into development clusters such as the Northern Quezon, Central Quezon, Lucena City, Banahaw Cluster or District 2, Bondoc Peninsula, Lamon Bay District and at Ragay Gulf District.

“The formation of development clusters in Quezon Province aims to fully maximize the potential of specific areas para mas maging (to make them more) focused at (and) direct ang (the) policies, programs and proposals base sa kaunlaran ng kanilang lokalidad (on the development in their localities),” the Governor explained.

Likewise, Suarez informed the council of the upcoming groundbreaking of the Coconut Research Center in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) in the town of Catanauan.

“Ito po ay matatagpuan katabi ng (This can be found beside the) full campus of Southern Luzon State University. We believe attaching it to the university will be a big assistance to our coconut farmers because we will have an endless supply of research of doctors, scientists and students who want to promote and find out more about what we can do with the coconuts,” Suarez said.

He added that one of the aims of the Center will be the development of agro-enterprises in the province through creation of livelihood opportunities as well as through the strengthening of cooperatives and associations which will be supported by the provincial government.

The governor said further that to address children’s malnutrition challenge, the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) will establish a Food and Processing Center in the town of Pagbilao that will develop nutritious juices and chips, among others.

For tourism development, Suarez presented the REINA (Real, Infanta and General Nakar towns) Tourism Plan, which identified eight tourism circuit in the district and was approved and endorsed by the council to the regional level. These are the Mangrove Ecopark, Tanauan River Rafting and Tignoan-Malapad Surfing Spots, Tulaog Cave, Infanta Coastal Trip, Masanga Cove, Tinipak Spring & Cave, Mountain Trekking and Island Hopping and Tanauan River Rafting.

Meanwhile, the governor reminded the participation of the 39 municipalities and two cities comprising the province of the yearly Niyogyugan Festival which will open on Aug. 9, 2018. (PNA)

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