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Friday, April 29, 2005
Mayor, solons meet on Misamis Oriental's division
THREE provincial governors in Northern Mindanao have different reactions to congressional moves to divide provinces into two or more government units.
This came as the League of Municipal Mayors-Misamis Oriental led by Tagoloan mayor Yevgeny "Bambi" Emano and other local officials are planning to meet up with district congressmen Danilo Lagbas and Augusto Jun Baculio Jr. Saturday with regards to splitting Misamis Oriental.
In separate interviews with Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, Northern Mindanao Provincial Governors Jose Ma. Zubiri of Bukidnon and Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin believe the ultimate decision-making on whether to divide a province or not should be left to the residents.
Moreno said he is also amenable to dividing Misamis Oriental if such is what the people want.
However, Zubiri admitted he is not for the division of Bukidnon all the way.
He said it does not "immediately follow" that because his son Bukidnon District Representative Miguel Zubiri is pushing for dividing the Bukidnon province, he is also amenable to such a move.
"Politically speaking, the division of Bukidnon is not beneficial as I am already the governor of the entire province," he said.
Stay solid
Zubiri disclosed that it is mostly the mayors and barangay captains from the southern part of his province who are under the perception that Bukidnon's division would enhance the progress in their areas.
This particularly as Bukidnon is one of the biggest provinces in the entire country in terms of land area and the development funds are always not enough to cover roads and other infrastructure costs for the province.
Zubiri said there are also several reasons to go for dividing Bukidnon. He cited how splitting the province would also mean additional Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and jobs.
"But I will leave it to the people whether they would agree to the division or not...inig plebisito, if uyon sila na wala na kita'y mahimo niana (when the plebiscite will be held and if they are agreeable to dividing Bukidnon then we cannot do much about that)," this governor said.
In 1999, Central Mindanao Newswatch reported how the Provincial Board of Bukidnon presided by unanimously approved the motion of board member Conrado Micayabas to defer action on to split Bukidnon province until 2001.
Micayabas then explained that after feeling the sentiment of the people in the north especially the elderly people and hearing their voice, his conscience told him that it is not yet the right time to divide Bukidnon.
He also said then that Bukidnon has to stay solid.
Micayabas at that time was convinced that if the division will be pushed through, there will be hearts that will be hurt and dreams that will be shattered between the people in the north and the people from the south.
Also, then First District of Bukdinon Representative Neric Acosta delivered a privileged speech in the House of Congress opposing the division of Bukidnon for various reasons, but he also said that there could be people consultation on the issue to get their side as an expression of democracy.
Politically aligned
Meanwhile, Camiguin Governor Romualdo said though there are no moves to divide his small island still it is worth noting that there are several provincial governments that really need to be split.
"If there would be faster development, then there is a necessity to divide such a province," he said. "Like Misamis Oriental, its difficult for the governor espcially if like Governor Moreno who is a hands-on governor that he has to manage 24 municipalities and one city."
Romualdo said it is difficult to "supervise and coordinate" for the development of a province even if all its local town executives are supposed to be politically aligned to the governor.
"Ang mga mayors ako pa gani na sila tanan pero lisud how much more sa Misamis Oriental," he said. "64 hectares circumferential road ang Camiguin lisud naman gani how much more 200 kilometers sa Misamis oriental."
For Misamis Oriental, Moreno has also expressed views on consulting the public before splitting up the province.
During their session last Monday, Association of Barangay Captains-Misamis Oriental chairman and ex officio board member Emeritu Acain, Sr. said the mayors and other officials are scheduled to meet Saturday.
He said they would then be getting the consensus of these officials' as to whether they are amenable to the split.
"We have also invited Congressman Baculio and Congressman Lagbas to be with us this Friday," he said. (Lizanilla J. Amarga)
(April 29, 2005 issue)
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