Cagayan eyes return of capital to Lal-lo
By Melvin Gascon
TUGUEGARAO CITY — The provincial government here has begun crafting plans for the proposed transfer of the provincial capital from this city to Lal-lo in northern Cagayan, its old seat during the years of Spanish occupation.
Gov. Manuel Mamba said the move to revert to Lal-lo as the provincial capital is to decongest Tuguegarao and spread development to the northern parts of the province.
“This plan, while looking at our past, is more about looking forward to the future,” he said.
The plan is to develop a provincial government complex on the 27-hectare property in Bangag village in Lal-lo, current site of the provincial sub-capitol.
The planned transfer aims to bring provincial government services closer to the province’s downstream areas, as Lal-lo is located at the central part of Cagayan.
Established during the term of then Gov. Edgar Lara, the sub-capitol site became idle for the past nine years.
The property was revived after Mamba assumed office last year, after some refurbishing. It now hosts a “skeletal force” of the provincial government’s frontline offices, and has since been the venue of Mamba’s twice-monthly “people’s day”.
The transfer will likewise development programs that aims to develop the northern part of the country for international trade, with support from the revival of the Aparri port.
Last year, the provincial government has started the construction of P34-million evacuation center, and a farmers’ school at the sub-capitol compound.
Santa Praxedes town at the western end is 197 km or about 4 hours from Tuguegarao, while Santa Ana, the easternmost town, is 152 km or about 3.5 hours away from the capital.
Transferring the capitol to Lal-lo will slash distance from these two farthest towns by 77 km.
Aside from being the provincial capital, Tuguegarao is likewise the regional center for Cagayan Valley. Officials estimate that the city’s population of 170,000 doubles during daytime.
“We need to do something to ease the load of excessive urbanization on Tuguegarao. We see the wisdom of why lal-lo was made as the capital during the Spanish period,” Mamba said.
As the seat of the Catholic diocese, Lal-lo, then known as Nueva Segovia, was one of the first four cities in the country, alongside Manila, Cebu and Naga.
The plan, however, does not sit well with Mamba’s political rivals. Vice Gov. Melvin Vargas, Jr. said no prior consultations were made before this was firmed up.
“We need to consult with our people first; after all, any funds spent are people’s money,” he said, adding that a provincial capital should be located in the city.
This writer sought Tuguegarao mayor Jefferson Soriano for comment, but he did not respond to text messages sent to his mobile phone.
Lal-lo mayor Florante Pascual welcomed the proposal, saying the plan complements the current thrust of their town government of reviving its bid to be declared as a historical city. MG