Business: Talisay on the Way to Being Balanced City

All has been going great guns for Talisay City, with the continuing implementation of the Performance Governance System (PGS) and now the

Public-Private Partnership (PPC) projects just lately secured, Mayor Eric Saratan said during an interview with journalists yesterday morning.

Saratan said he was also guest panelist at one of the forum arranged by the PPC last week in Manila where he answered questions aired by investors and made an effort to interest them in investing in the city.

On tap under the PGS and PPC programs are development projects such as a new market, slaughterhouse, seaside resort, birthing clinic and a youth crisis center.

The timetable for the implementation of the projects is 2016. This will be monitored by a multisectoral coalition which they have organized.

The planning model for all these development projects is Charlotte City, a city in North Carolina in the United States which has become a financial center, well-developed urban area but in its outer environs has a well-developed agriculture and forestal areas which create a well-balanced development in its urban and countrysides aspect. This is what the Public-Private Partnership (PPC), also wants to achieve.

There are more development projects under the heritage tourism of the PPC.

In the old city hall area it will be developed to the extent that the old facade will be enhanced. The old plaza will also be improved while the market nearby will be modernized. It will be a placewhere people could go to and relaxed. In the countryside area, Congressman Albee Benitez, has allocated a budget of P10-M for the building of a concrete road linking Barangay Matab-ang.

Will all these done, the tax collections capability of the city will be boosted, social services will be available to the people of Talisay even as today, basic services for its young and old people have been put in place.

At the moment, visitors will be pleasantly surprised because a mall built by Ayala Land development is rising from a once desolate site while in the countryside area, even Bacoleño Ricardo "Cano" Tan has evinced interest in building a forest resort.

Another mega-project would possibly be a replica of the Enchanted Kingdom such as they have in Manila. Just a few days ago, a representative of the playground discussed with him if possible for their expansion in Negros Occidental province with the building of another one in the old site of the Talisay Sigar Mill (TASIMICO), owned by the Aranetas.

They will build a wet market Extension plus a Pala-Pala where visitors can go to.

But old stall owners should not worry or fret because new ones built will be reserved for them.

All of these developments have the support of Congressman Albee Benitez, said Saratan.

On his belonging to the Liberal Party (LP), as early as months ago, he had already been a member of the political party and has taken his oath as a member.

He had jumped the gun earlier on and it was positive because it is President Benigno Aquino III’s own the party, said Saratan.*