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Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Nalzaro: Abolishing the Cebu Provincial Government
By Bobby Nalzaro
The resolution passed by the Tuburan Municipal Council calling for the abolition of the Provincial Government of Cebu is, indeed, ridiculous. But like the Cebuano congressmen who wanted to split Cebu into several provinces, Tuburan councilors who voted on that measure are also entitled to their entertainment.
Still, I can understand the sentiment of Tuburan officials. That resolution, I think, was a product of their frustrations and disappointments with the political leadership in the province. Maybe they are not political allies of the present Provincial Capitol occupant. So they feel they are being neglected and deprived of support, especially in terms of projects and developments.
But that's political reality in this country. As deposed president Joseph Estrada said, it’s all weder-weder politics. But granting that Tuburan has been left out in the distribution of projects, is abolishing the Provincial Government the solution? I don't think so.
The people of Mindanao, especially our Muslim brothers, would always claim they are being neglected by the National Government, which is the reason why the Muslim rebellion still exists in the area. Does it follow that the people of Mindanao should also petition for the abolition of the National Government?
Local government units that belong to the same category receive the same amount of the Internal Revenue Allotment. As for the extra appropriations intended for ambitious projects, that largely depends on the initiative of local officials. They can source funding through their congressmen, senators or governor. Or through loans.
Under our Constitution, only Congress has the power to change or alter boundaries and create new local government units with specific requirements. We have been using the same political structure and boundaries even during the time when our country was still ran by the Spaniards. The word gobernadorcillo, meaning head of a province, is Spanish.
Anyway, the Tuburan measure is an exercise in futility and is a mere scrap of paper as far as Congress is concerned. If Congress acts on it, it will be opening the floodgates for more changes in boundaries and creation of local government units. This will not be good for our country.
Who can stop the Boholanos, for example, from establishing their own Republic of Bohol? Ija-ija, aho-aho na jud ta ani.
(bobby@sunstar.com.ph/ 0919-3181404)
(March 2, 2005 issue)
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