‘Consolacion should be made a city’

Luis Gabriel Quisumbing
Lakas-Kampi-CMD

What will be your priority bills?

As I promised the town of Consolacion, the first bill I’m going to file, if I’m blessed enough to win, is to convert the town into a city. Consolacion has the most natural advantages of any local government unit—the shoreline in Tayud and Cansaga, the mountains up to Lanipga. It is the gateway to northern Cebu, and it needs to be a city to support its development. It’s going to be a tough road. It’s not a decision we’ve come to lightly. But you know, in evolution, you just always have to go one step higher.

You can’t regress. Consolacion is a hotbed for economic development. It needs to be able to provide for progress. On the budget of a municipality, that’s difficult to do.

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Aside from that, we have to work on improving our services in this district of opportunity. The sixth district has a very good cross-section of all the opportunities in the province: the beaches of Cordova, the industries of Mandaue, the economic opportunities that Consolacion will offer the province of Cebu.

When you think of Cebu, the district has a little bit of all it has to offer. Not many other districts can say that, nationwide…It’s all about setting the foundation, so that when the opportunities come to the sixth district, like industries, call centers and schools, we are ready for them… We are a central district, in the literal and figurative sense. We have to improve our basic services, so that when the opportunities knock, the sixth district is ready to answer the door.

Have these concerns been addressed by the incumbent representative?

Yes, but it’s never enough. There’s always room for better health care, better education and livelihood opportunities, better infrastructure…We have to continue to hone, sharpen. It’s always a work in progress. It’s important to find a way to progress that is corruption-free, bureaucracy-proof and people-friendly.

You were in the Provincial Board for one term. Do you feel that’s sufficient preparation for legislative work in Congress?

My stint in the Provincial Board was an invaluable experience. I was exposed to district and provincial politics at the ripe old age of 24. I was given stewardship of a very important committee (the budget committee) and I feel that I served the committee and the Province ably. More importantly, that stint really exposed me to what the district needs…I felt in 2007 (when he first ran for Congress) and I continue to do so now, that so much work needs to be done.

Who are your closest advisers?

My family, my friends. Ultimately, the only advisers we should responsibly have are the people of the district.

What is your position on the Reproductive Health Bill?

I believe in choice. I believe the best advice we can give when it comes to reproductive health is discipline and education. Do we have a population problem?

Yes, indeed, we do. But are we going to solve the problem through official reproductive control measures? No. Ultimately, the answer will be education... It’s an option (the use and promotion of artificial methods). It is not the only option. Should the government sponsor that? Perhaps not. That’s a private sector responsibility, providing artificial birth control measures. For me, it’s a question of how the government educates people to make disciplined choices.

Do you see a need to revise the 1987 Constitution?

Revise? I think we should use the term revisit. We have to revisit some provisions. We have to remember that many of the provisions were written in reaction to the atrocities committed during martial law. But certain provisions need to be brought up to speed, so to speak…It’s difficult for someone running for the position of representative to say this part or that provision of the Constitution needs to be changed, when, should I be blessed to win, I will swear to protect and defend and uphold the same Constitution. I will say that if changes need to be introduced, it should be done, not through a constituent assembly, but through a constitutional convention–by delegates voted upon by the people.

How much of your pork barrel will be set aside for education?

It will be substantial part. I’m very happy to be in the sixth district, because there’s not much more that needs to be done in terms of infrastructure. What we need to concentrate on are basic services, education being paramount. We are very lucky in the district because each of our districts has a community college.

These are built-in educational advantages for the people of the district. What I want to see is a greater allocation, not just of funds, but also expertise from the Department of Education. ..The tuition may be less, but we should not offer them discounted education. Initially, what we want to do is offer parallel vocational training, not just the traditional college courses.

While there are a plethora of jobs available, sometimes the technical qualifications and skills needed are not there.

Will you vote for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Speaker of the House?

I don’t even know if she’s won yet! (Laughs) I’ll be absolutely honest with you. Aside from the plans and platform I’ve made for the district, I haven’t thought a day past May 10 for a long time. Who will I vote for Speaker? I’ll probably be able to answer that on May 11, if I am blessed. My girlfriend told me she bought me tickets to the John Mayer concert on May 16, and it took me a second to realize that I haven’t thought past May 10 for so long, that I couldn’t conceive of making plans for after election day.

Right now, I’m concentrating on putting together a win.