Davide says uniting Cebu is top priority

CEBU, Philippines - A divided Cebu is said to be the main concern raised by senior citizens to Liberal Party gubernatorial candidate Hilario Davide III during his visit to Toledo City yesterday.

In Barangay Don Andres Soriano, Constancia Rollog, 67, said it hurts them to continue seeing Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña trade barbs. The ongoing dispute between the two leaders reportedly has not brought the senior citizens anything good.

“Sa pagkakaron, miabot na gani ug P4,000 ang benepisyo nga nadawat sa mga lolo ug lola didto sa syudad. Kami dire, makatagamtam kaha mi niana?” Rollog said.

Senior citizens from Madridejos, Alegria, and Pinamungahan also raised the same concern to Davide during previous consultations.

In Cebu City where Davide served as councilor for two terms, Osmeña gave at least P2,000 cash incentives to senior citizens after the city received the first payments from Filinvest Land Inc. and SM City Holdings, two major investors at the South Road Properties.

Rollog said they appreciate Davide’s intention to unite the province if he gets elected into office.

“Maningkamot ko nga matagamtam ninyo ang mga benipisyo sa ngadto ngadto. Usa na sa atong mga iuna unya. Wala na unyay away,” Davide said.

Divide said Cebu will project a very suitable place for investment if the city and provincial governments are unified.

Meanwhile, Former board member Estrella Yapha announced that her husband, Antonio Yapha, who is running for Congress against incumbent Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia, will establish a “One stop shop” for senior citizens.

“Kaning one stop shop, anaa na tanan, mahimo kamong mudangop kabahin sa inyong mga panglawas ug concerns sa pension,” Yapha said. — Johanna T. Natavio/JMO (THE FREEMAN)