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Monday, February 21, 2005
78 governors to stop Cebu split?
By Jeanette P. Malinao
CEBU CITY -- Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is calling for a summit on March 12 for the public to voice out their opinion on the move to divide Cebu into separate provinces.
Garcia also vowed to bring the issue before the League of Provinces of the Philippines, as well as the League of Cities of the Philippines.
Should the proposals sail through the House of Representatives, those who want to keep Cebu the way it is will have to rely on Senator Serge Osmeña III, a congressional veteran said.
Governor Garcia believes it is high time for proponents to hear the sentiments of the private sector and government representatives on the issue.
"Our voice must be heard, telling them that united as one, Cebu prospered and survived and Cebu intends to meet the challenges of the future as one united Cebu," the governor told 32 of 47 town mayors and other local leaders, who signed last Friday night a manifesto against the plan.
Saying that the matter is not just a local issue, Garcia also disclosed her move to call on League of Provinces National President Erico Aumentado.
Once filed, she said, this will affect the income of all provinces in the country, because the Internal Revenue Allotment will then be divided among 83 or 84 provinces, instead of 79.
Since newly created provinces will also push to have their own capital cities, the same effect is seen on the income of all cities over the Philippines.
"I'll call on all 78 governors to speak against this illogical and selfish proposal," Garcia said.
"We are besieged by this one big crisis. This is no longer a joke, I wish it were. I warn you, if we don't do our share, the death of this beloved province after 435 years of existence will come like a thief in the night," Garcia further said.
Representatives Antonio Yapha, Simeon Kintanar and Clavel Martinez filed their respective bills to form a separate province out of Cebu's second, third and fourth districts.
The lawmakers project more development among the towns within their jurisdiction if they succeed with the plan, because the proposed provincial governments will have smaller areas to oversee.
Also, their constituents will no longer have to travel all the way to Cebu City to transact business, so the government will then be "closer to the people."
They also think of the additional money Cebu can get from the National Government with the proposal, because each district will then have its own IRA share as a province.
The local mayors' league already passed a resolution against the plan.
(February 21, 2005 issue)
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