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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Pampanga aspiring to be megalopolis

Pampanga aspiring to be megalopolis

Published Oct 29, 2021 06:16 pm

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Pampanga province aspires to transform itself into a megalopolis of 218,100 hectares, a cluster of 19 municipalities and three cities forming the country's next economic corridor.

The Pampanga Golden Triangle, composed of the cities of Angeles, San Fernando and Mabalacat and the high-density and fast-growing municipalities of Porac, Floridablanca, Lubao, Guagua, Santa Rita and Bacoor, will be at the heart of the master plan.

From the Pampanga Golden Triangle, the development will spread to a larger part of the province, according to presidential adviser for Clark flagship projects, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"The private sector and the government cooperation will play a significant role in transforming Pampanga into the country's next major economic corridor," she stated.

Already, urban planner Felino A. Palafox Jr. has designed a development plan for the megalopolis.

Together with former Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, Arroyo tapped private space planners to undertake the Pampanga Megalopolis 2017-2040 study.

The province can truly become the gateway of Asia to the Philippines as well as the business and financial center of Northern Luzon, according to Arroyo.

Furthermore, Pampanga can be a major investment hub in the region as it is supported by existing and future infrastructure projects, from the Clark International Airport, North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway to the Manila-Clark Railway.

Pampanga already serves as the gateway to Central and Northern Luzon.

However, the development of the SCAD corridor, interconnecting Subic, Clark, and Tarlac and the rise of Clark International Airport as well as the construction of Manila-Clark Railway will boost the status of the province as the "Gateway of Asia" to the Philippines, Arroyo noted.

More than a substitute to the Manila International Airport, Clark International Airport can accommodate the logistics and airport industry of both Central and Northern Luzon.

The construction of the Manila-Clark Railway is now in full serving, while the Clark-Subic Railway will start soon.

Under the masterplan, Pampanga will also have integrated mass-transport systems including Bus Rapid Transit, an LRT, wide roads with special lanes that promote walkability and bikeability, and a feeder system using medium-capacity vehicles.

At present, Pampanga is one of the largest consumer markets in the Philippines, with five SM shopping malls, three Robinsons Malls, a Vista Mall, a Nepo Mall and 50 Jollibee outlets.

Related Tags

PALAFOX DESIGNS PAMPANGA MEGALOPOLIS Pampanga megalopolis GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER FOR CLARK FLAGSHIP PROJECTS
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