PILAR, Bataan — Former Pilar town mayor Carlos “Charlie” Pizarro, Jr. will become the general manager of Metro Bataan Development Authority (MBDA).
MBDA is a newly formed provincial government agency created through a provincial ordinance passed last year by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board).
“We need someone who is respected by his fellow mayors and peace keeping agencies like the PNP and the military. That is why I chose Mayor Charlie Pizarro to head the MBDA,” Bataan Governor Albert Garcia told this reporter in an interview.
Pizarro, in a news conference at this municipality’s town hall, told Bataan newsmen that MBDA’s prime task is to oversee a well coordinated traffic management, peace and order and road safety along the 70 kilometer Roman Highway from Barangay Balsik in Hermosa to the municipality of Mariveles.
Charlie Pizarro’s wife, Alicia Dizon-Pizarro replaced him as the mayor after he finished his three terms as the local chief executive of this town.
“MBDA’s main goal is to make Bataan the safest province in the country,” Pizarro pointed out.
The former chief executive also confirmed that recently, Second District of Bataan Representative Enrique “Tet” Garcia, Jr. passed a house bill seeking for the creation of MBDA as an authority to have its own funding from the national government.
MBDA will have a number of key officials with Governor Garcia serving as the chairman of the board; a general manager; two assistant managers for administrative and operational functions; 12 Bataan mayors that will form as the board of directors and other needed personnel.
At present, the provincial government is eyeing the MBDA headquarters inside a 16-hectare land in Barangay Dona in Orani town and will also soon house the provincial headquarters of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMC), Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Red Cross, Patrol 117 (soon to be updated and launched as “Patrol 1Bat”), National Bureau of Investigation, 1Bataan team, National Food Authority warehouse for relief goods, and a relocation center for evacuees.
“Along the stretch of Roman Highway, we will build at least three rest areas in strategic locations that can accommodate 100 vehicles with comfort rooms and shower areas, tow trucks, auto repair shops and a commercial area needed by motorists who will encounter road problems,” Pizarro added.
The agency will also coordinate with various provincial and national government agencies to implement its projects to protect highway travelers, tourists and investors in the province’s major investment locations such as the Freeport Area of Bataan, Hermosa Ecozone Industrial Park, etc.
High tech devices will also be installed along the highway like close circuit television cameras, solar powered street lights, along with modern vehicle patrol to protect motorists from robbers and other armed groups. Compac or community police stations along the highway in 11 towns and 1 city will be built and manned with motorcycle riding patrol personnel. •
source:
http://www.headlinegl.com/ex-mayor-to-head-metro-bataan-devt-authority/