Panay towns revive 'economic union'
ROXAS CITY – The five neighboring towns of Capiz and Aklan have revived their collaborative project "Central Panay Economic Unification" (CPEU) which was first formed in the 1990s by Jamindan and Tapaz of Capiz and Altavas, Batan and Libacao of Aklan to pursue joint economic development.
Jamindan mayor Ethel R. Jinon, CPEU founding chair, initiated the move towards the revival of the economic union that had brought a number of benefits for the member-owns during its first operationalization in the 1990s.
At that time, CPEU was allotted a seat in the Western Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) and gained the attention of the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of the Interior and Local Government, other national government agencies and development institutions in planning and implementing development programs.
The union also opened up other development opportunities for the five municipalities which were bound by a common development agenda.
Jamindan Community Development Information Officer Norma Chavez said their lady chief executive, who had been their town mayor from 1988, made the move to revive the collaborative union knowing the benefits that it could bring to the area.
Altavas mayor Kathryne B. Refol is the present chair of CPEU.
Mayors Rosemarie Gardose of Tapaz, Delfina R. Ramos of Batan, and Charito I. Navarosa of Libacao are all supportive of the economic aggrupation.
One of the current projects being pushed by CPEU is the completion of a road that interconnects the provinces of Capiz and Aklan through the towns of Jamindan and Libacao and its conversion into a national road system.
The CPEU local chief executives pointed out that the road system will contribute significantly to the development of their area. (PIA-JSC)