THE Lucao-Bonuan corridor will be developed as a new growth center in Dagupan to make the city competitive with fast-rising cities in Northern Luzon for the next three years.

Acting Mayor Belen Fernandez made this promise as she said this is long overdue given the construction of the modern Jose R. de Venecia Sr. Expressway from Barangay Lucao to Bonuan.

Fernandez made this announcement before participants from Dagupan, Binmaley, Labrador and Sual in a workshop on modeling impacts of aquaculture and the use of common water bodies.

“Would you agree with me when I say some of these landlocked fishponds, especially those bounded by the De Venecia Highway whose quality of water has deteriorated over the years should now be finally liberated so that they can serve for more useful means other than fishponds?” she asked.

She noted that the landlocked fishponds bounded by the De Venecia Expressway had become unproductive and owners are now considering converting them for commercial purposes.

At the same time, Fernandez recognized that the workshop could help rationalize the use of rivers in Dagupan to enhance the growth of the city’s fishing industry.

Fernandez lamented that the outgoing administration of Mayor Benjamin Lim failed to maximize this opportunity when it refused to issue a building permit for the planned P500 million resort hotel proposed by the family of Fernandez on their property in Lucao.

The rejection was made despite the designation of Barangay Lucao as a growth center in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) approved in 2002.

Fernandez is now in consultation with urban planners for the development of the new growth center.

She pointed out that with the limited land area in Dagupan, these landlocked fishponds could be converted for the entry of investors.

“Investors would be more than glad to invest in Dagupan if the Lucao-Bonuan area can be developed into a new growth center,” she added.

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