Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday outlined nine priorities of his administration for the next three years ranging from the production of ethanol, putting Negros Occidental's organic food drive on the world map, creating an export processing zone and pushing major infrastructure projects to hasten economic growth.

"The bottom line of all these efforts is to further push economic prosperity in the countryside," the governor said in his State of the Province Address at the inaugural session of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan at the Capitol in Bacolod City. The governor said in the north the provincial government will support the bio-ethanol project of San Carlos City.

We will also aggressively support the move of the sugar planters to utilize the country's excess sugar for the production of bioethanol through existing alcohol distilleries by October or November, he said.

He said this is in line with the implementation of the Biofuels Act, which mandates that within the next two years at least five percent shall compromise the annual total volume of gasoline fuel actually sold and distributed by each and every oil company in the country.

BRIDGES, AIRPORT

The governor said he will also persistently lobby with the national government for the construction of a bridge linking Negros and Panay islands for the remarkable impact it will have on the economy, he said.

In an interview, the governor said he is meeting with prospective foreign investors in the bridge project in Manila today.

Marañon said that if the bridge cannot be completed during his term, he would be happy if a feasibility study is done and the ground work for its construction is completed.

We shall be building more roads, bridges and other needed infrastructure facilities to promote investments and tourism that will definitely provide additional employment and income in the rural areas, he said in his SOPA.

The provincial government will also support the initiative of Kabankalan City to construct an airport to further spur development in the south, he said.

EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE

In Sagay City, the governor said the provincial government will continue supporting the development of an agricultural export processing zone.

This export processing zone is vital in achieving the thrust of making Negros Island the Organic Food Bowl of Asia, the governor said.

Together with our counterpart in Oriental Negros, we will bid in Italy next year for the hosting of the 2011 International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement Congress in Negros, he said. The congress is expected to draw 3,000 delegates from around the world, he said.

PAGLAUM REACQUISITION

Marañon said the provincial government is also working on the reacquisition of the Paglaum Sports Complex in Bacolod City so that it can be adequately maintained.

"It deserves preservation for its historical value to the Negros Occidental High School that has produced many alumni who have given pride to Negros Occidental," he said.

INTEGRATED JAIL The provincial government is also negotiating with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology for the integration of the Provincial Jail with the BJMP and its transfer to a bigger property acquired by the province in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City, the governor said.

PNB PROPERTY

We have renegotiated a 1960s contract with the Philippine National Bank where PNB - which was then majority owned by the government - undertook to pay the provincial government P1 a year for the use of prime property for 99 years, with an option for renewal for another 99 years at one peso a year, he said.

As part of the renegotiation, the governor said PNB will give the provincial government a share of rentals from its tenants and return to the province 4,000 square meters of the leased property, which we intend to develop into a commercial center, the governor said.

P200M LOAN

To give the provincial government more flexibility in aligning its resources, the provincial government expects to embark this year on a second program loan amounting to P200 million with the Municipal Development Fund Office of the Department of Finance, the governor said.

On top of the nine targets he outlined the governor said in the next three years of his term he will also continue his seven-point agenda as a framework for development.

The seven-point agenda covers food security, agricultural productivity, health, education, housing and other basic social services, infrastructure facilities, environment conservation, rehabilitation and protection, investment and trade promotion, and tourism development.

In response to the speech of the governor, Vice Governor Isidro Zayco read a pledge of support of the Negros Occidental Sanggunian to his leadership and governance.

Marañon said that when his term ends, the legacy he wants to leave behind is that the officials of Negros Occidental were able to work in unity to bring progress to the province.*CPG

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