Tuesday, February 06, 2007 PB backs Bogo, Carcar in bids to become component cities
OTHER cities may object to the creation of new cities, but the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) yesterday passed a resolution supporting the cityhood petitions of Bogo and Carcar, even if it will mean lesser revenue allocation for existing cities.
PB Member Victoria Corominas, in her sponsored resolution that the Board adopted, said the conversion of the first class municipalities into cities will “open up more opportunities for growth and progress.”
The PB explained that it has always supported endeavors that will bring welfare to its constituents.
If passed into law, the conversion of Bogo in northern Cebu and Carcar in southern Cebu will bring to seven the component cities under the Cebu Provincial Government.
Benefits
The Senate committee on local government already endorsed for approval the bills converting 12 towns into cities. Sen. Alfredo Lim, the chairman of the committee, had said this would bring in more benefits for the people.
But the League of Cities of the Philippines objected to the move, citing a decrease in the share of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) in the sharing scheme for local government units.
Bogo Mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, however, said it is unfair for the league to block their development. Had the existing cities developed their local economies and veered away from reliance on IRA, then they wouldn’t be threatened by the creation of new cities, he said.
Another southern Cebu town, Naga, would have been included in the bills creating new cities, but Sen. Aquilino Pimentel reportedly wanted only one new city per district. Naga and Carcar both belong to Cebu’s first district.
Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong confirmed that they have said goodbye to their cityhood bid, even though the town earns more than Carcar or Bogo.
Carcar was included because its bill was filed way ahead of Naga, Chiong said. (JPM)
