Nothing easy in ‘Balik Probinsya,’ say LGUs

FARM WORK A farmer sifts through rice stalks to collect leftover grains during harvest in Tiwi, Albay. The government sees agriculture as one of potential job generators in the provinces as plans to decongest Metro Manila, through the “Balik Probinsya” program, are discussed. —MARK ALVIC ESPLANA

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has asked local officials to begin making plans for the proposed “Balik Probinsiya” (Back to the Provinces) program while the country continues to grapple with the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.

In a statement, Año backed the proposal urging Metro Manila workers and residents to return to their home provinces after the health crisis, describing it as a possible long-term solution to congestion in the National Capital Region.

He noted that the dense population of Metro Manila was among the reasons it was hardest hit by the disease.

Año said the Balik Probinsiya program would end recurring problems in urban areas, such as worsening traffic, uneven development, poor sanitation, poor health care and overpopulation.

“If the proposal pushes through, we are encouraging local government units (LGUs) to, as early as now, plan for the arrival of their townsfolk returning from Metro Manila,” he said. “This is a good initiative but is still in need of specific guidelines before it can be rolled out.”

Preparations

But local officials interviewed by the Inquirer said support from the national government and extensive preparations were needed for the program to work.Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said the plan should motivate people to stay in or move to the provinces. The approach, he said, should respond to at least three basic factors to entice people to accept Balik Probinsya: mobility, opportunity and quality of life.“In fact, the reforms we have been pushing for in Congress, especially Citira (Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act), are structurally biased toward incentivizing countryside development,” said Salceda, chair of the House ways and means committee.

He said a “build it and they will come” approach should be adopted.

Economic ecosystem

A comprehensive plan to check the fundamentals of every province in terms of investments, access to capital, technical and public education, and agricultural modernization should be in place, he said. “We need an economic ecosystem that will support growth in the countryside.”

Quezon Gov. Danilo Suarez said the program should be complemented by a parallel “lipat gobyerno” policy where national government agencies would be relocated to a new hub outside Metro Manila.

Mayor Arnan Panaligan of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro province, said the city officials must revitalize the agriculture sector and refocus their efforts toward agri-entrepreneurship to make farming more profitable and attractive.

Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said people should decide on where they wanted to work.“My question is, what can the Balik Probinsiya program offer to entice our local residents working in Metro Manila and Calabarzon to return home, and work and engage in business in the provinces, and in Sorsogon?” he said.

Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara said the national government should grant incentives to local businesses, such as lowering the cost of production, tax holidays, and fast-tracking the processing of permits and licenses, in order to generate jobs for returning residents.

In the Visayas, Guimaras Gov. Samuel Gumarin said the return of residents to their home provinces would become a burden if their needs would not be met. “Where will they work and where will they live?” he said.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas also said providing jobs and housing was the key to the successful implementation of the program.

Biliran Gov. Rogelio Espina said: “The Balik Probinsya program is good, but we need employment, power subsidy for big investments, more businesses.”

Tacloban City Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin said the local government should provide a good working environment and offer competitive financial compensation.

Among the possible jobs include those in agribusiness and aquaculture, health and wellness services, such as hospitals and medical centers, and tourism-related businesses.

Poverty to worsen

For Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza, the program would only worsen the poverty situation in the provinces if it was done without any financial support from the national government.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia challenged businessmen in the province to “reboot” and “refocus energies” into making Cebu self-sufficient in food production after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco said the proposal must be “institutionalized” by the government and offer an attractive economic package to encourage industries, companies and people to relocate to the provinces.

Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista said he was wary about the idea. “Where would they place people who are going home to the provinces and who will give them livelihood?” he asked.

Bataan Rep. Jose Enrique Garcia III said returning residents would add badly needed manpower to revitalize the free port zone of the province.

The absence of a vaccine even after coronavirus infections drop to zero around the country is a concern raised by local officials in Batanes and Mountain Province and Baguio City, saying this might lead to public health problems.

—REPORTS FROM JEANNETTE ANDRADE, MAR ARGUELLES, DELFIN MALLARI JR, MADONNA VIROLA, NESTOR BURGOS JR., JOEY GABIETA, ADOR MAYOL, ORLANDO DINOY, NATHAN ALCANTARA, GREG REFRACCION AND VINCENT CABREZA INQ

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