Super regions of the Philippines

The creation of super regions in the Philippines is a proposed plan by the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her sixth State of the Nation Address to group the selected regions/provinces by their economic strengths.

Composition

thumb|250px|right|Map of the Philippines divided into the proposed super regions, except for the cyber corridor.

North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle

* Ilocos Region or Region 1 (I)
* Cordillera Administrative Region or CAR
* Cagayan Valley or Region 2 (II)
* Northern portion of northern provinces of Central Luzon or Region 3 (III)
** Aurora (north of Baler)
** Nueva Ecija (north of Cabanatuan City)
** Tarlac (north of Tarlac City)
** Zambales (north of Subic)

Metro Luzon Urban Beltway

or simply "Luzon Urban Beltway."
* Southern portion of the northern provinces and the rest of Central Luzon or Region 3 (III)
** Aurora (south of Baler, including Baler)
** Bataan
** Bulacan
** Nueva Ecija (south of Cabanatuan City, including Cabanatuan)
** Pampanga
** Tarlac (south of Tarlac City, including Tarlac)
** Zambales (south of Subic, including Subic)
* Metro Manila or National Capital Region or (NCR)
* CALABARZON or Region 4-A (IV-A)
* MIMAROPA or Region 4-B (IV-B) (excluding the provinces of Palawan and Romblon)
** Marinduque
** Occidental Mindoro
** Oriental Mindoro

Central Philippines Region

also known as Tourism Super Region.
* MIMAROPA or Region 4-B (IV-B) (excluding the provinces of Marinduque, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro)
** Romblon
** Palawan
* Bicol Region or Region 5 (V)
* Western Visayas or Region 6 (VI)
* Central Visayas or Region 7 (VII)
* Eastern Visayas or Region 8 (VIII)
* Camiguin of Northern Mindanao or Region 10 (X)
* Siargao Island of Caraga or Region 13 (XIII)

The Tourism Super Region is a concept of development plan of the government. Under this concept, the government intends to focus development and investments on tourism related projects. This Super Region is actually a cluster of five regions plus some parts of the Caraga Region. It boasts of a wide stretch of beachline, surfing spots, caves, lakes, and historical sites.

Included in the plan is building the infrastructures such as airports, roll-on-roll-off seaports, bus terminals and hotels. Aside from Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the government intends to build international aiport in each component region. Already, the Panglao International Airport in Bohol in Central Visayas has begun development, the new Legazpi International Airport in Daraga, Albay for the Bicol Region is in its initial phase while the unutilized Guiuan Aiport in Guiuan, Eastern Samar is being planned to be converted into an international airport for Eastern Visayas region. Kalibo Aiport which is still a categorized as a domestic airport, is now open to international flights from Incheon, South Korea due to increasing Korean tourists flocking to Boracay Island.The new Iloilo International Airport in Mandurriao, Iloilo, is designated as international airport for Western Visayas region in tandem with Kalibo Airport. Unlike Kalibo Airport, the Iloilo airport does not have international flights so far.

Mindanao Super Region

also known as "Agribusiness Mindanao" Super Region.
* Zamboanga Peninsula or Region 9 (IX)
* Northern Mindanao or Region 10 (X), except Camiguin
* Davao Region or Region 11 (XI)
* SOCCSKSARGEN or Region 12 (XII)
* Caraga or Region 13 (XIII), except Island of Siargao
* Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or (ARMM)

=Cyber Corridor=

* Traverses the above "super" regions from Baguio to Cebu to Davao.

Development Themes

The "super" regions shall have the following primary, through not exclusive, development themes:
* "Northern Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle" - Agribusiness
* "Luzon Urban Beltway" - Globally competitive industrial and service center
* "Central Philippines" - Tourism
* "Agribusiness Mindanao" - Agribusiness
* "Cyber Corridor" - Information and communication technology and knowledge economy

Development Champions

Development Champions (Super Region Heads)

The Development Champions are the following:
* North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle - PMS Director-General Arthur Yap;
* Luzon Urban Beltway - Subic-Clark Alliance for Development Chairman Edgardo Pamintuan;
* Central Philippines - Secretary of Tourism Joseph Ace Durano; Secretary Cerge Remonde shall be the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development of region VII;
* Agribusiness Mindanao - Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Jesus Dureza;
* Cyber Corridor - Commission on Information and Communications Technology Chairman Ramon Sales.

Development Champions Mandates

Each "super" region shall have a designated Development Champion whose mandate is to:

* Serve as catalyst for development and prime advocate of the strategic development theme in his area;
* Ensure the implementation of the priority programs and projects identified in the 2006 State of the Nation Address and the undated MTPIP, in close collaboration with the concerned local government units, national agencies and other partners in development, and undertake the necessary interventions to help ensure that these are completed on time and at a lowest cost to government.
* Work out operational policies and remedial actions to ensure that the priority programs and projects are completed on schedule and a lowest cost to government;
* Submit a monthly report to the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) on the overall accomplishment of project implementation, issues and problems identified and recommend solutions pursuant to item (c) above.

See also

* Regions of the Philippines
* Economy of the Philippines

External links

* [http://www.gov.ph/news/default.asp?i=157252006 State of the Nation Address of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo : Philippines : Gov.Ph :]
* [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=45238 ABS-CBN Interactive] ABS-CBN news about the super regions
* [http://www.ops.gov.ph/records/eo_561.htm Executive Order No. 561: FORMATION OF THE "SUPER" REGIONS AND MANDATE OF THE SUPERREGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHAMPIONS]
* [http://www.gov.ph/superregions/NLAQ1.pdf North Luzon Super Region: Potentials]
* [http://www.gov.ph/superregions/NLAQ2.pdf North Luzon Super Region: Projects]