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Saturday, April 23, 2005
Split-Cebu advocates to spend for plebiscite
By Grecar A. Nilles
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Capitol’s refusal to fund the plebiscite for the proposal to create separate provinces in Cebu is not stopping the proponents from pursuing their plan.
They agreed to use their Priority Development Assistance Fund (Pdaf) and some other funds available to them as legislators for the plebiscite, said Rep. Antonio Yapha, who filed a bill to make a Cebu Occidental out of his turf, the third district.
He said Rep. Simeon Kintanar (Cebu, 2nd district) and Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez (Cebu, 4th district) are even willing to use some of their funds for the road show, which they hope to start anytime this summer.
Kintanar filed a bill to form Cebu del Sur out of the 15-town second district, and Martinez also filed her own bill to create Cebu del Norte out of her nine-town territory.
Earlier, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia refused the three legislators’ request for the Provincial Government to issue a certification that funds are available for the plebiscite.
The certification, the representativces said, was needed by the House committee that is now reviewing the bills for a Cebu del Norte, Cebu del Sur and Cebu Occidental.
Garcia had said Cebu Province will not fund its break-up. She pointed out that the law provides that it is the petitioners that should spend for the plebiscite.
Yapha and Kintanar graced yesterday’s launching of the “Marikina Shoe Caravan” that featured the city’s world-class shoes and other products.
Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando and Marikina Mayor Maria Lourdes Fernando led several entrepreneurs from their city in showcasing their products in the different cities and towns in Cebu until May.
Kintanar, who suffered a stroke two months ago, said his survival only means one thing: to fight his Cebu del Sur proposal until it succeeds.
“Gisumbong na ko ni sa Ginoo. (I’ve told God about this.) Some say that I have become inutile after the incident, but with my survival, mo-fight pa gyud ni,” Kintanar said.
Kintanar admitted, though, that he has not campaigned for the project after the stroke.
Kintanar added that he is now ready for the road show, if any of the municipalities under his district would request them to explain their proposal.
“I knew there would be opposition. I expected that because this is a democratic country. But in the end, they will understand,” Kintanar said.
The towns in the second district include Argao, Dalaguete, Oslob, Boljoon, Santander, Alcoy, Boljoon, Samboan, Alegria, Ginatilan, Dumanjug, Badian, Moalboal, Ronda, Malabuyoc and Alcantara.
They already passed resolutions against the plan, including all 45 barangays of Argao, Kintanar’s hometown.
Yapha, for his part, is definite that his Cebu Occidental plan will succeed because of the support of the different towns in his district.
So far, only the mayors of Aloguinsan and Balamban opposed his plan, which is supported by Toledo City, Barili, Pinamungajan, Asturias and Tuburan.
Of the requirements needed for the establishment of a separate province, Yapha said he only needs the map from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the boundaries of the territories.
“That’s the only thing that hinders our proposal so far. It might take some time because the DENR does not have a map for that purpose,” Yapha said.
He added that immediately before the road show, they will launch a comprehensive media campaign for the dissemination of the proposal.
Yapha also expects that their proposal will be passed into law this year.
“The people in my district are the ones who will benefit from the plan. You know, we give the provincial government P300 million a year, but according to (Provincial Consultant) Pablo John Garcia, they have given our district P177 million in 10 years. So, asa man ka ana, P300 million in a year or P177 million in 10 years? With a separate province, we can already use the whole of the P300 million that we are giving to the province,” Yapha said.
(April 23, 2005 issue)
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