Google map showing Misamis Oriental province and Cagayan de Oro City, which partly comprises the 'Metro CDO' development plan.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A member of the City Council on Thursday urged lawmakers in neighboring provinces to make the "Metro Cagayan de Oro (CDO)" bill a priority.
During an online talk program, 2nd District Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya said provincial legislators in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon must come up with a resolution urging their respective representatives in Congress to pass the Metro CDO bill before the year ends.
Nacaya, who chairs the 20th City Council’s committee on planning, research, innovation, and people’s organizations, said officials of the regional office of the National Economic and Development Authority recently met with him for updates on the lobbying efforts for the city's “metropolization.”
The initiative is part of the development agenda of Cagayan de Oro Mayor Rolando Uy’s administration.
"It is the national government that mandated the creation of Metro Cagayan de Oro," Nacaya said, referring to the Philippine Development Plan mandating the establishment of Metropolitan Cagayan de Oro by 2025.
He noted that the city's metropolization is inevitable, as reflected in the development of the city’s hinterland areas, where subdivisions are being built.
Under the Metro CDO plan, the economic growth area will include neighboring Misamis Oriental towns, such as Opol and Tagoloan, and Manolo Fortich municipality in Bukidnon province.
Meanwhile, 2nd District Rep. Yevgeny Vincente Emano requested the Department of Tourism to expand its Tourist Rest Area (TRA) projects in the province, especially on the proposed Initao–Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape.
"Initao has the only seascape and landscape in the whole country, lush green forest meeting the seaside," he said during a committee hearing at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
In response, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said she would consider Emano's request depending on the availability of funds from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.
Currently, there are 15 TRAs in the Philippines with one recently inaugurated in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. (PNA)
