CDO and adjacent towns eyed as metropolitan center

THE ECONOMIC team of the Duterte administration is planning to make Cagayan de Oro as the country’s fourth metropolitan center by 2025.

In the draft Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022, “Metro Cagayan de Oro will become the fourth metropolitan center based on its projected population growth and functional role as major gateway and transshipment hub in Northern Mindanao.”

This, the plan added, will continue to serve as key education center in Northern Mindanao.

Metro Cagayan de Oro consists of Cagayan de Oro City; Jasaan, Villanueva, Tagoloan, Claveria, Opol, El Salvador, Alubijid, Laguindingan and Gitagum in Misamis Oriental; Libona, Manolo Fortich, Talakag, Baungon, Malitbog and Sumilao in Bukidnon.

As of 2015, data from Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the population in those areas, which would be part in Metro Cagayan de Oro, already reached to 1.376 million, which rose from 1.180 million in 2010 and 9.531 million in 2000.

At present, the country has three metropolitan centers in the National Capital Region (NCR), Metro Cebu and Metro Davao. Should the plan would be pushed through, Cagayan de Oro will be the second metropolitan center in Mindanao aside from Metro Davao.

Metro Davao, meanwhile, “is a major international gateway and Mindanao’s premier commercial hub and center for education and health services,” according to the draft PDP 2017-2022 of the present administration.

“The current metropolitan centers of NCR, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao have distinct roles in terms of providing higher forms of services and facilities that serve both domestic and international requirements,” the draft PDP 2017-2022 cited.

The economic team of the present administration, including the National Economic and Development Authority, is currently finalizing the PDP 2017-2022, which would serve as the roadmap in the six-year term of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. (By Kristianne M. Fusilero)