Recently-appointed chairman of the Regional Development Council, the highest planning body of Western Visayas, is eyeing an ambitious but attainable project for a bridge connecting Iloilo in Panay Island to Negros Island.
RDC chair, Negros Occidental Alfredo Marañon took his ceremonial oath before Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. on September 26,2014 at the RDC-NEDA building in this city before regular members of the council composed of provincial governors, high urbanized city mayors, component city mayors, capital town mayors, heads of government line agencies and representatives of the private sector.
Marañon said it is the dream of all Ilonggos to have a connecting bridge linking two major islands in Western Visayas. Aside from the bridge, Marañon is also partial to quality education as social equalizer and the creation of good business process outsourcing (BPO) centers in the region for job creation.
“There is no insurgency if there is no poverty and we must strive to help plan for the general welfare of our people,” Marañon challenged the RDC membership.
Marañon is the first Negros Occidental governor appointed as RDC chair since the 1990’s. He succeeds Capiz Governor Victor Tanco Sr. who finished his term in June 30, 2013.
