With the significant increase in population every half a decade, a senator stressed the need to employment and enterprise opportunities outside Metro Manila.

“We need to build more mega cities such as Cebu, CDO, and Davao for other regions to flourish and provide growth to Filipinos elsewhere aside from Metro Manila,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

Aquino made the pronouncement after the country’s population hit 101.8 million or 10 percent higher than the 92.3 million in 2010.

“Currently, Metro Manila is tackling problems of heavy traffic, water shortages and others because its capacity is being maximized. Thus there is a need of better urban planning here and in other regions,” Sen. Bam said. 

“Developing other urban centers would be a win-win situation for us as we anticipate continued economic and rapid population growth,” the senator added.

According to Sen. Bam, the continued growth in population will affect the government’s capacity to provide quality basic services to the public.

“If we will provide employment and enterprise opportunities in the countryside, Filipinos who relocated to Metro Manila will be encouraged to return to their hometowns and earn a decent living,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam added that the passage of the Go Negosyo Act and the Youth Entrepreneurship Act, have aimed to provide more Filipinos chances in finding employment and livelihood in their hometowns.

Approved by President Aquino last August 27, 2015, the Youth Entrepreneurship Act or Republic Act No. 10679, will help strengthen the government’s push to address the growing number of unemployed young people in the country.

Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act provides for the establishment of Negosyo Centers in all provinces, cities and municipalities in the country to help the government’s push for inclusive growth.

The Negosyo Center will provide access to linkages to bigger markets for businesses, and a unified and simplified business registration process, thus helping ease of doing business and fast-track government processes in putting up a business.

As of press time, 90 Negosyo Centers have been established all over the country.