San fernando city: Solid North Party-list Representative Ching Bernos has introduced House Bill No. 3109, aiming to establish the Northern Luzon Development Authority (NLDA). This proposed body seeks to harmonize development efforts across the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Cagayan Valley, with a primary focus on tourism.
According to Philippines News Agency, the NLDA is envisioned to have its main office in San Fernando City, La Union, and additional branches in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, and Baguio City. The authority will operate with a 50-year renewable mandate, collaborating with local government units, national agencies, private sector partners, and civil society to promote socio-economic growth.
A significant aspect of HB 3109 is its emphasis on tourism as a key driver of regional development. Section 7 of the bill highlights tourism's potential to create jobs, preserve cultural heritage, and support inclusive growth. The NLDA will focus on identifying and promoting heritage towns, natural parks, ecotourism areas, cultural landscapes, and various coastal and mountain destinations. It will also invest in necessary tourism infrastructure such as access roads, terminals, accommodations, and visitor centers, while supporting community-based tourism initiatives and small enterprises, particularly those led by women, youth, and indigenous peoples.
In advocating for the measure, Bernos highlighted the pressing need for structured planning and coordination in Northern Luzon. "The regions of Northern Luzon -- comprising the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Cagayan Valley -- are endowed with abundant natural resources, cultural richness, and human capital. Despite this, the area continues to face developmental disparities, limited infrastructure, and fragmented governance," she stated.
Bernos noted that previous administrations had identified these challenges through initiatives like the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle. However, the dissolution of such initiatives without a sustainable replacement has left Northern Luzon lacking a cohesive development framework. "By harmonizing our regional strengths under one framework, Northern Luzon can finally stand out as a unified hub of tourism, culture, and development," she added.
She expressed optimism that with the enactment of HB 3109, Northern Luzon will be able to leverage its natural assets and cultural heritage effectively, creating opportunities that enable the local population to prosper within their home regions. "Institutionalizing the Northern Luzon Development Authority will ensure balanced, sustainable growth that uplifts our people and protects the beauty of the Amianan (North) for generations to come," Bernos concluded.
