For Chairman, Vice Chairman: Regional Development Council sends nominees to Malacañang

CEBU, Philippines – Four governors and a mayor from Central Visayas were nominated yesterday for the chairmanship of the Regional Development Council 7, while two private sec-tors were also nominated for the selection of vice chairman.

Nominated were Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Governor Orlando Fua of Siquijor, Governor Edgardo Chatto of Bohol, Governor Agustin Perdices of Negros Oriental and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Meanwhile, Jose Ng and Argeo Melisimo, both from the private sector, were nominated for the position of vice chairman.

During yesterday's full council meeting, a debate ensued after Cebu second district congressman and Deputy House Speaker Pablo Garcia, who is a member of the advisory council, moved that they vote for the selection of the new RDC chairman and vice chairman before the list is submitted to the President.

This way, Rep. Garcia said, the President would know the ranking of the nominees.

But Gov. Fua also moved that the list of nominees be submitted to the Office of President Benigno Aquino III without going through a votation, so the President will have a free hand on whom to appoint.

Since both officials insisted that their motions be carried, this prompted the presiding officer Marlene Rodriguez to call for the division of the house.

During the voting, at least 40 members favored Fua's motion while only nine favored the motion of Rep. Garcia.

The RDC also yesterday confirmed the inclusion of 16 private sector representatives, who shall comprise one-fourth of the council.

The following nominees were chosen during the elections held in each province and were confirmed as private sector representatives of the four provinces: Engr. Jose Mari Bigornia, Teresa Fernandez, Robert Go, Jose Ng, Emmanuel Rabacal, Abundio Gultiano Jr and Fr. Margarito Alingasa for the Province of Cebu.

For the Province of Bohol, these are Mr. Argeo Melisimo, Panfilo Asares and Marietta Gasatan while Negros Oriental has Gregorio Uymatiao Jr., Engr. Ed-gardo Pedrosa and Atty. Gloria Futalan.

Siquijor, for its part, has Mr. Carmelito Bulaybulay. Two of the 16 seats also have Josefina Lim, appointed representative for the labor sector while Carmelito Canoy Sr. was appointed for the basic sector. (FREEMAN)