URDANETA–The city of Urdaneta is optimistic about moving up from second class to first class status soon.

Buoyed by the city’s encouraging economic prospects and citing the benefits that can be derived by its central location as a crossroad from east to west and from north to south in Pangasinan, Mayor Amadeo Perez said the city will have its chance in the next re-classification conducted by the Department of Finance.

From January to July this year, the city already posted a P440 million income, excluding P123 million from its operation of the Urdaneta  City University, one of the biggest schools of higher learning in eastern Pangasinan with over 6,000 students.

Perez said last year, the city registered a surplus of P44 million from its budget which was realized due to sound fiscal management and moderation of all expenses.

“Every year, I see to it that our budget is conservative because we do not want to incur any deficit,” said Perez, now on his third term as mayor.

More economic prospects await the city due to the slated opening of the newly-built high-rise Building B of the Public Market financed from a loan of P170 million by the city government from the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Building B will complement Building A of the market which was constructed ahead made possible by contributions from Rep. Mark Cojuangco (P80 million), from President Arroyo (P15 million) and P60 million from the city coffer.

With Building A and B both operational, the city stands to earn more from businessmen investing their money in the city, Perez said.

BIG BUSINESS

Perez also announced that a big multinational company is set to put up a branch operation in Urdaneta and is eyeing to a 49-hectare lot along the MacArthur Highway between Urdaneta City and Sta. Barbara as its possible location.

The recent widening of a portion of the Mac Arthur Highway and of the Maharlika Highway   initiated by Cojuangco is considered by officials as a boon to Urdaneta.

The widening project eliminated congestion of vehicles along both highways, making travel from Manila to the north and vice versa faster.—LM

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