Wednesday, September 10, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
PASAY CITY -- Finally, after more than a decade of waiting, the full rehabilitation of Bacolor from lahar devastation is in sight.
Last Monday, the Senate unanimously approved on a vote of 22-0 on third and final reading Senate Bill (SB) 2100, otherwise known as the Bacolor Rehabilitation Bill.
The bill was authored by Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, chairman of the Senate committee on local government. It was initiated in the House of Representatives by Third District Congressman Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. under House Bill (HB) 3380.
"It's definitely a landmark legislation for Bacolor and Pampanga and a decisive move toward bringing Bacolor closer to full recovery and development," an exuberant Gonzales said after the bill was passed without any objection.
Gonzales said the bill may be signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on September 28 in Bacolor, in time for the birthday celebration of Arroyo's father, the late president Diosdado Macapagal.
"This will also form part of her huge legacy to her kabalen, especially those in Bacolor who loved Apung Dadong," he said.
Under the bill, about P1.5 billion in special funds will be allocated in 2009 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the rehabilitation of the lahar-ravaged town.
Several senators, among them Loren Legarda, Jamby Madrigal, Francis Pangilinan, Richard Gordon, Mar Roxas and Aquino have pledged to provide additional funds for the rehabilitation of Bacolor.
Madrigal, Pangilinan, Gordon and Aquino are of Kapampangan lineage.
"This is a memorable day for the people of Bacolor and Pampanga," Gonzales said as he thanked the senators for their full support that paved the way for the quick approval of the bill.
Gonzales said the bill fulfilled his pledge to the people of Bacolor that he would help speed up the recovery and rehabilitation of the historic town, once seat of the Provincial Government and capital of the Philippines during the Spanish colonization.
Present during the approval were regional directors of government agencies in Central Luzon, local officials of Bacolor, executives and teachers of the Don Honorio Ventura School of Arts and Trades and other sectoral representatives.
The bill provides for the creation of Bacolor Rehabilitation Council to be headed by Director Remigio Mercado of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) with the Bacolor mayor and other local officials and sectoral leaders as members.
All but two barangays of Bacolor were destroyed by lahar flows following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. Most of its nearly 30,000 residents have been relocated in several resettlement sites in Pampanga.
"With this bill, we can now begin to plan for the return of the people of Bacolor to their hometown," Gonzales said.
As this developed, Bacolor officials and residents lauded Gonzales for passage of the Bacolor bill.
"We are grateful for his exceptional concern and effort in making this possible," the officials said.
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