North Luzon Alliance sets plan to boost trade

By Marissa M. Cabatu

BAGUIO CITY – The Northern Luzon Alliance comprising of 49 government legislators from Regions 1, 2, and Cordillera recently adapted development plans of the three regions for “unified development direction” of North Luzon. 
    The unique natural, historical and cultural assets of the Cordillera region were emphasized in the Regional Action Plan (RAP) of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program, and in the recommendations to the North Luzon Growth Corridor Strategic Plan.
    Both plans were endorsed by the Regional Development Council Cordillera on June 10.
    Additional inputs were raised when presented to the RDC for endorsement in its 1st quarter meeting last March 18.
    The National Economic Development Authority Cordillera and RDC through  sectoral committees recommended a study on the development of an integrated North Luzon economic zone to consolidate the region’s products, and serve as a staging area for national and international trade directed to countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
    They also agreed to prepare a North Luzon economic zone development master plan with Cordillera as pilot study area and inclusion of legislative agenda to advance strategies and initiatives of the plan.
    The RDC agreed to approve in principle the NL Strategic Plan but with RDC recommendations incorporated in the final document.
    The BP2 RAP which includes the localized implementation guidelines and communications plan was endorsed earlier by the CAR BP2 committee chaired by Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Cordillera and Agriculture Sec. William Dar on April 28.
    RDC Secretary and NEDA Assistant Director Stephanie F. Christiansen said that there was need to adapt an economic zone development as major strategy for the region as recommended by Dar which is also consistent to the strategies of the NL Growth Corridor Strategic Plan.
    The BP RAP embodies the planning principles of environmental sustainability, culture-responsive development, convergence and inclusion which are responsive to the development concerns of the region.