Gov. Abet eyes NEDA expertise to appraise Bataan’s economic gains

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Bataan Governor Albert Raymond S. Garcia is eyeing the scientific know how of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in Central Luzon to carry out a comprehensive and efficient performance analysis of the local government units to achieve factual and socio-economic influence of their development programs in the countryside.

He stressed the NEDA should undertake an exhaustive assessment of the city and municipal governments in the province instead of concentrating on the regional level as part of the evaluation and measurement capability in pursuing good governance, socio-economic and investments volumes.

Garcia is comparing the unprecedented economic growth of the tiny State of Singapore, a former British Naval Base, to the Bataan peninsula which is fast emerging as the investment hub in Central Luzon with its natural resources, highly-trained graduates, sufficient power supply, infrastructure and other facilities.

Foreign and local investors are looking for a collective economic and financial assessment impact study of the province as guide when engaging in industrial, manufacturing and other productive services.

Garcia said that he has sought the assistance of the NEDA to perform a prudent economic analysis of the provincial government and municipal executives of which the result will become a scholarly manifestation of an effective local manager on the right tract in achieving its vision of socio-economic prosperity.

Garcia pointed out that NEDA has enough economists and survey experts to ascertain the actual performance of local executives based on its respective development plans and growth rate.

He added, the NEDA economic survey output of local executives could greatly improve the investment posture scheme which eventually will encourage more investors to come and participate in local public and private partnership projects in the local level.

Garcia likewise cited the economic gains of the province with the status of the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) in Mariveles which is now considered as the fastest growing economic zone in the country. The industrial development in Limay and other processing zones in Hermosa and Morong towns, in its totality may even surpass the annual national economic growth rate of 7.2 percent.