SAYING that Cebu needs her “101 percent” attention, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia declined the nomination to head the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) for the next three years.
During its full Council meeting and nomination of the new set of officers on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, Garcia begged off from the chairmanship and said other members should be given the chance to lead the RDC.
Private sector representative Kenneth Cobonpue and Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap were nominated instead.
“Thank you for your vote of confidence. But at present, this representation feels that Cebu needs my 101 percent attention, so I respectfully decline the nomination,” Garcia told the Council.
The Council was supposed to nominate two local chief executives and two private sector representatives.
The list of nominees will be submitted to the Office of the President through the Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority for the appointment of the chairman. The other nominee automatically becomes the vice chair.
While other local chief executives seek positions in different Councils and leagues, Garcia opted to focus on the Capitol.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella, a first-term mayor, was recently elected national chairman of the League of Cities of the Philippines.
Liloan Mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco was also recently elected as president of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines Cebu Chapter.
Garcia felt that Cebu has “sunk to a very low level” and she has to focus her efforts and attention “to bring Cebu back to its rightful place.”
“I have to give my full attention to the many concerns that I have to deal with in so far as Cebu province is concerned,” said Garcia.
It is also time to give other members of the Council a chance to have a seat in the Council, she said, adding that she had already experienced being the chairperson of the RDC.
In an interview, Garcia said she wants the RDC meetings to be interactive where the region’s concerns will be thoroughly discussed.
“It felt like we’re in a class lecture. Let it be a meeting of the minds and not a meeting of the PowerPoint presentation,” said Garcia.
An interactive meeting would entice the local chief executives and regional directors to attend every RDC meeting, she said. (JJL)