Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday called on “Imperial Manila” to rethink its development strategy and relocate industries to the provinces, after heavy floods inundated Metro Manila this week.

If the national government makes it a policy to really develop the countryside and disperse the industries to the provinces, the people who make up the large illegal settler populace of the metropolis would be encouraged to return to their hometowns, a Capitol press release quoted the governor as saying.

The governor made the call during the regular meeting of the Provincial Development Council meeting at the Nature’s Village Resort Hotel in Talisay City, where he gave an update on the achievements of the provincial government in the implementation of its Negros First Development Agenda.

Negros Occidental is playing a key role in terms of food production in the country, he said. This was validated by Regional Director Larry Nacionales of the Department of Agriculture Region VI who noted the growth of rice production in Negros Occidental, mainly because of the huge budget the provincial government pours into agriculture. This is the reason why it has received the top Agri-Achievers Award from DA, the press release said.

Nacionales presented the present programs of the regional DA for Negros Occidental as well as its proposed programs for 2013, along with other regional line agencies such as the Department of Health presented by Regional Director Susana Madarieta; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority by Provincial Director Lorena Yunque; Dept. of Labor and Employment – Wilfredo Santizo; Department of Public Works and Highways - Cecil Caligan; National Irrigation Administration –Joel Basiao; Dept. of Trade and Industry – Engiemar Tupas; Dept. of Education – Michael Acoyong; Dept. of Agrarian Reform – Milagros Flores;

Dept. of Science and Technology – Glady Reyes; Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources – PENRO Valentin Talabero and Forester Dinnis Parcon; Civil Aviation Authority of the Phil. (CAAP) Edwin Espelita; Philippine Ports Authority – Enrique Fuentebaja; and the State Colleges: the Negros State College of Agriculture by Dr. Mae Flor Posadas; Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology by its President Dr. Romulo Sisno; and Carlos A. Hilado Memorial State College by its president Dr. Renato Sorolla.

The presentations at the PDC Regular Meeting were moderated by Ma. Lina Sanogal, head of the Provincial Planning and Development Office, that serves as secretariat, the press release said.*

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