Gullas: Sugbuak is not yet over

FOR Cebu First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas, the fight against proposals to split Cebu province into four provinces or Sugbuak is not yet over.

Gullas, one of the anti-Sugbuak congressmen, said his colleagues should be more vigilant because the proponents of the Sugbuak bills may sneak the bills for discussions during plenary.

The congressman said the matter could be taken into plenary because it is included in the business for the day, which means that it can be taken up and calendared for discussion.

The House of Representatives will convene on February 19 and 20 after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called for a special session for the ratification of the Anti-Terror Bill and other pending measures.

Gullas said that only matters that are specified in the President's proclamation will be discussed in the House. He is, however, uncertain if the President included in the special session that she called for the bills that have been certified urgent.

"That measure is not yet over. It can be revived. We have to be on our guard," Gullas said, adding that the House of Representatives still have five session days in June before the terms of the incumbent members expire.

Cebuano legislators Simeon Kintanar of the 2nd district, Antonio Yapha of the 3rd district, and Clavel Martinez of the 4th district proposed bills converting their respective districts into separate provinces.

Yapha filed a bill s for the conversion of the 3rd district into Cebu Occidental, with Toledo City as capital. Martinez wants the 4th district named Cebu del Norte while Kintanar authored a bill creating Cebu del Sur comprising his own district.

Interestingly, the three are on their third and final terms in office, but they all dismissed speculations that they want to create new offices to be able to stay in power after their terms expire. Garry B. Lao and Gregg M. Rubio/QSB-