CEBUANO lawmakers should create six more districts in Cebu.
This was the appeal of Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy during the recent Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) meeting.
Considering the present population, Sitoy said Cebu is entitled to have a total of 15 districts instead of nine districts, which is the current set-up.
Cebu City, for example, should have another district since its population already reached at least 800,000, Sitoy said.
He said each district is entitled to a minimum population of 250,000.
Some time in 2009, then south district congressman Antonio Cuenco filed a bill that sought to create a third district in Cebu City, but it failed to advance since the City fell short of the required population.
Sitoy also said that Cebu’s first district should also be split as it is already overpopulated.
He believes Talisay City and Minglanilla should be formed into one separate district.
“Congressmen should consider the creation of additional districts not only because many would be aspiring (for a seat in Congress) but because we believe it would mean more growth,” he said.
More minds
Sitoy said it would mean there will be more minds working for the development of the entire Cebu.
Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district), who attended the MCDCB meeting, said what Sitoy wants will happen in due time.
Del Mar pointed out that the bill filed by Rep. Wilfredo Caminero (Cebu Province, 2nd district) to split the second district has already been approved by Congress in the third and final reading.
The second district will include the towns of Argao, Boljoon, Santander, Dalaguete, Samboan, Alcoy and Oslob, while the new district will cover the municipalities of Ginatilan, Alcantara, Badian, Ronda, Dumanjug, Moalboal, Alegria and Malabuyoc.
Sitoy said he hopes other mayors will support the plan to create more districts in Cebu.
Present
During the MCDCB meeting last Friday, other Cebuano lawmakers who were there aside from Del Mar are Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa (Cebu City, south district), Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. (Cebu, 1st district), Rep. Joseph “Ace” Durano (Cebu, 5th district) and Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing (Cebu, 6th district).
Opposed
Meanwhile, Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. (Cebu Province, First District) disagrees with the idea of Cordova town mayor Adelino Sitoy to convert Talisay City and Minglanilla into separate districts.
Gullas made the reaction following Sitoy’s proposal to the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) to separate some current Cebu districts in order to facilitate faster growth in Cebu.
“In my humble opinion, the MCDCB is already getting the support of the First District.
What is the need to separate it?” Gullas asked.
Gullas told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that there was no need to separate districts just to get support for MCDCB as the districts and even the National Government is supporting the body.
In a separate interview, Minglanilla town mayor Elanito Pena said he agrees with Gullas that his town isn’t ready yet to become a separate district.
“It will need to be discussed first,” Pena said.
Pena said that while the idea of converting his town as a separate district is appealing, they still need to comply with more requirements before that could happen.
Gullas and Pena are allies under the First District’s ruling Alayon Party.
For his part, Talisay City Mayor Johnny de los Reyes said he is open to Sitoy’s idea.
De los Reyes, who is popularly known as JVR, said that with Talisay City as a completely separate district, it will be prioritized in the implementation of infrastructure projects under the National Government.