Proposal to relocate Malacañang to Pampanga

Because of the recent flood in Metro Manila caused by tropical storm Ondoy, Malacañang is reviving an old proposal to relocate Malacañang.

The proposal was to relocate Malacañang to Pampanga, which is the home province of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. It covers not only Malacañang, but also the Congress, the judiciary and other government offices.

The proposed site is a 3,000-hectare plateau in Floridablanca, Pampanga. Acting Public Works Secretary Victor Domingo said that the proposal is a timely one because of the recent calamities.

Domingo even stressed that the transfer would not cause to government to spend a huge amount since the government already owns the land, with water and electricity already in place. It is near the Clark Special Economic Zone and Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Arroyo said in an interview, a day after Ondoy lashed the country, “Floods spare no one. Floods do not spare the President of the Philippines. They do not spare the seat of government.”

Is it really a good timing to do this one? Personally, I don’t think so. There are far pressing matters to be attended to… like mobilizing the distribution of relief goods from DSWD perhaps?