IF the economy is to grow faster, there should be more jobs-creating investments outside Metro Manila.

This is, in a nutshell, what the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) believes, according to Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr.

"For the economy to grow a lot faster, the NEDA believes there will have to be more jobs and investments generated outside Metro Manila," said Villafuerte, who is seeking the congressional approval of the proposed Camarines Sur Ecozone.

"And I believe one sure way to create abundant jobs and investment opportunities outside the national capital that would turbocharge regional growth is to put up more SEZs in the regions that would become magnets for local and foreign direct investments," the Camarines Sur lawmaker stressed, referring to special economic zones.

Villafuerte said that "the 19th Congress can make this happen, in line with the hoped-for generation of more livelihood and investment opportunities beyond the major urban centers like Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao, by acting on a long-pending bill putting up such an ecozone in Camarines Sur."

Villafuerte, former governor of Camarines Sur, was referring to House Bill 3681 which seeks to establish an SEZ at the Provincial Capitol Complex in Pili and in Milaor.

Villafuerte Jr. said that "this proposed investment hub would not only boost the region's growth and development, but would also encourage Bicolanos to stay put in their respective home-provinces instead of flocking to Metro Manila — thereby helping the national government attain its twin goals of decongesting the NCR (National Capital Region) and stimulating growth in the countryside."

The Bicol Region is composed of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon.