SBG sees resumption of ‘BP2’
SENATOR Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, expressed optimism on the resumption of the government’s ‘Balik Probinsiya, Bagong Pag-asa Program’ (BP2) as he pushed for the creation of an “investment plan” towards bossing economic opportunities and rural development.
“Layunin po ng programang ito na mabigyan ng bagong pag-asa ang mga Pilipino na may hinaharap silang maayos na kinabukasan pagkatapos ng krisis at tutulungan sila kung sakaling gusto nilang bumalik sa kanilang mga probinsya,” Go explained about the BP2 program which was stopped from implementation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The BP2 program is a long-term plan of the government to decongest Metro Manila and boost countryside development.
Last May 6, 2020, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 114 which created the BP2 Council to help institutionalized the program.
The EO came about after Go authored Senate Resolution No. 380, which the Senate adopted two days earlier, on May 4, 2020.
The BP2 program has four key results areas to ensure inclusive and balanced urban and rural development, and the creation of resilient and sustainable communities: (1) the empowerment of local industries; (2) food security and agricultural productivity; (3) housing, social welfare, health, employment and human resource development; and (4) infrastructure development.
At the height of more stringent COVID-19 quarantine measures, the BP2 program’s initial rollouts were suspended to give way to Pres. Duterte’s directive to prioritize the ‘Hatid Tulong’ initiative, a transportation assistance program which helps locally stranded individuals (LSIs) return to their provinces.
“Despite temporarily suspending the subsequent rollouts, the preparations being conducted by concerned government agencies for the eventual (re)implementation of the BP2 program remains in full swing,” Go said.
According to Go, an investment plan crafted towards regional development will aid in modernizing the Philippine economy, generating higher levels of decent jobs across the country, and helping solve societal issues on employment, housing, transportation, and safe and secure travel, among others.
Go hopes for the investment plan to contain a list of specific activities or categories of economic activity that can qualify for incentives under Executive Order No. 226 (s. 1987) or the “Omnibus Investments Code of 1987,” such as income tax holidays.
“Malaking dahilan po kung bakit napakaraming mga taga-probinsya ang lumuluwas ng Metro Manila ay para makahanap sila ng maayos at disenteng trabaho.”
“Ngunit marami sa kanila, nadala na o ‘natagam’ sa Bisaya dahil paghihirap lang din po ang nadatnan nila sa Metro Manila imbes na mabuting buhay.
“Kung masisiguro rin po natin na tuluy-tuloy ang paglikha ng trabaho para sa mga kababayan sa mga probinsya, hindi na nila kailangang pumunta pa ng Metro Manila.
Ito po ang dahilan kung bakit mahalaga ang partisipasyon ng lahat ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno at ng private sector dito” the lawmaker further explained.
