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Thursday, August 31, 2006
Gwen seeks other governors’ help v. Sugbuak
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia appealed to her fellow governors yesterday to help her protect Cebu from the three bills that seek to divide the island province into four provincial units.
“Many months ago, this league passed a resolution against the proposal to divide Cebu. What we thought was dead is now resurrected and is even more looking ugly. Its resurrection was done in a most railroaded, hastily indecent manner,” Garcia told governors who attended yesterday’s special meeting of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) in Bacolod City.
She narrated Oriental Negros Rep. Emilio Macias’ move of sending the three bills to the House committee on rules, for consideration at the plenary.
Macias heads the committee on local government, whose 13 of 77 members voted on the proposals of Reps. Simeon Kintanar, Clavel Asas-Martinez and Antonio Yapha Jr.
Of the 13 who attended, seven voted for the bills, including the three authors of Cebu del Sur, Cebu del Norte and Cebu Occidental.
Garcia told other governors that Cebu is now the strongest and number one province, so much so that it could afford to give assistance to other provinces, because it is one.
The governor handed yesterday the check of P5 million as monetary aid to Guimaras Province, where an oil tanker sank.
“I make this request, please appeal to your congressmen. Help us campaign because our three congressmen refuse to listen to us despite the resounding and violent objections to the move to dismember our province,” said Garcia.
Siquijor Gov. Orlando Fua asked her what specific help can other provinces give, and Garcia said they could lobby with their congressmen to help.
There’s a possibility that congressmen, with their practice of shying away from local bills, may just refuse to meddle in the issue and let the bills pass.
“We will need the support of your congressmen if ever these will be put to a vote,” she said, and got positive response from other governors.
The governors’ league had opposed the creation of more provinces because it will affect the Internal Revenue Allotment share among provinces.
The Cebu Provincial Government is spearheading a signature campaign down to the barangay level.
Former Cebu governor Pablo Garcia also recently called on all towns and cities in Cebu to pass resolutions asking the House committee on rules to return the bills to the House committee on local government. (JPM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 31, 2006 issue)
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