Friday, August 10, 2007 Speak out: Mactan province By Lorenzo M. de la Serna Lapu-Lapu City
THIS is a reaction to the article of Cordova Mayor Adelino B. Sitoy (Speak Out, Sun.Star Cebu, Aug. 8, 2007).
I understand the grave concern of Mayor Sitoy over his town’s status when Lapu-Lapu became a highly urbanized city.
While Cordova remains a town, continues to vote for provincial officials and is entitled to representation in the Provincial Board, Lapu-Lapu City has become independent from the province.
Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (6th District) has filed a bill creating the 7th district composed of Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova.
The possibility of this bill being passed by Congress is nil because it must include a provision mandating Lapu-Lapu City to vote again for provincial officials, which would be unconstitutional.
Will the 7th district then be half-represented in the Provincial Board?
As suggested by some people, status quo in the meantime, meaning Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova will still be part of the 6th district, is legally untenable.
Mayor Sitoy mentioned the solution “proposed” by former senator Sonny Osmeña converting Mactan Island into a province, composed of Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova and the proposed town of Santa Rosa (not Olango).
I wish to inform Mayor Sitoy that the creation of the Island Province of Mactan was my idea, not Sonny’s.
And it did not die a natural death with the defeat of Sonny in his senatorial bid. It is still alive.
I do believe in the saying that “all great things start from crazy ideas.”
I made the proposal to Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza more than three years ago and had it published in one of the local dailies shortly before the May 2007 elections.
I asked Mayor Radaza to form a group to study whether the area qualifies for province-hood by determining its population, income and territory.
In the proposal, I made it clear that the feasibility study should include the island’s north and south reclamation projects: from the tip of Punta Engaño down to Barangay Ibo, and from the defunct Shell Island up to the town of Cordova.
The reclamation projects will definitely double the area of the island and open the reclaimed areas to heavy industries and more medium and small enterprises that will increase the income and open more job opportunities to the new province.
I also suggested that development of Olango Island as tourist destination be started, which will pave the way for Santa Rosa’s township.
I`m glad Mayor Sitoy is agreeable to the proposal, especially when he learned that my proposal included making Cordova the capital and seat of the new provincial government.
Creating the Island Province of Mactan is the only solution to the problems raised by Mayor Sitoy.
