PB INAUGURAL SESSION: Sanchez pushes plans to make Cebu a global economic player

Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. yesterday presided the inaugural session of the 11th Provincial Board and pushed for various programs that would make Cebu province a vital player in the world economy.

“Our vision is not only national but global. Cebu will soon become a world player in economy. The breathless wonder of change is seen at the horizon. An economic horizon is about to happen,” declared Sanchez to the PB.

The vice governor outlined various economic, entrepreneur and livelihood programs that he said would make the vision a reality but he rallied the Cebuanos to unite and join the quest.

“If there is no unity, there is no real victory. Let us not be held back by our biases or by our bitterness. Rather let us be pushed and pulled forward by our vision. After progress and comforts of life, our ultimate vision should be peace and unity,” he said.

The goal is not an “impossible dream”, Sanchez said, citing the Cebuano character as “indigenous and risk taker,” which he said are the “rights ingredients for entrepreneur.”

For the past three years as vice governor, Sanchez said he had been working for various livelihood programs. Now he wanted to include micro financing, agro-environment, economic zones, and reclamation site developments.

Sanchez said the Sugbu Micro Business Enterprise is already there to help Cebuanos acquire sufficient knowledge in micro-finance system.

He also mentioned that the proposed Cebu Trans-Axial Development Project would continue in spite of many “disbelievers” or several objections.

Sanchez said the CTDP would also include wind power development, which when harnessed could generate 3,000 megawatts of power for mainland Cebu based on a study by the Philippine Atmospheric Geographical and Astronomical Service Administration.

The project further includes the development of water supply, Sanchez said. “Cebu is fortunate to have 120 river systems…which would yield close to 500,000 cubic per day…If fully tapped and developed,…can serve even four million people,” he said.

He further envisioned the construction of a 300-kilometer Santander-Daanbantayan highway, which he termed as the “backbone highway” that would traverse parallel to the central highlands and reduce travel time by 40 percent.

“Cebu is a small island but its people have big dreams. For all its smallness, the promise is often referred to as the Empire Province,” said Sanchez but added that big things should be done to realize this “empire.”

Governor Gwen Garcia, for her part, readily supported Sanchez’ plan to develop Cebu into a global economic player but she wanted that the benefits derived from it would spread into the countryside and not just the highly urbanized areas of the province. 

“I am willing to sit down with the Vice Governor…to talk about specific projects and programs that will take advantage of each of the districts’ comparative advantage, to prepare each business for the future,” Garcia said.

The governor said she would ask for PB support for the delivery of basic services to the people such as roads, bridges, water, electricity, health insurance and social welfare.

All these would make Cebu a “special economic zone,” which would in turn provide the “proper growth” to the province.

“I am talking of the real opportunity for (Cebuanos) to rise to every challenge, to defend its honor and its birthright, and to seize the bright and prosperous future that will bring us to our rightful place before the national and international stage,” Garcia said. — Gerome M. Dalipe/RAE