Quisumbing urged: Start Mandaue bid for lone dist

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy has appealed to Cebu sixth district Rep. Gabriel Luis “Luigi” Quisumbing to start the conversion process of Mandaue City into a separate legislative district.

Sitoy made his appeal through a privilege speech he delivered yesterday before the provincial board.

“Mandaue City deserves it, if not needs it more today than before,” Sitoy said.

He cited the dreams of Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes to win over flashfloods, over garbage, pollution, traffic, poverty, illiteracy and unemployment.

“But the coffers of the city cannot address them all without the focused support and inimitable brinkmanship of a Congressman solely elected to help attend to the needs of Mandaue City, now a growing metropolis,” Sitoy added.

Sitoy appealed to Quisumbing to give justice to the glory that was, and is now Mandaue, by providing a mechanism where a congressman can focus all his legislative acumen and know-how.

PB Member Thadeo Ouano, who served as mayor of Mandaue City for three consecutive terms, supported Sitoy.

Mandaue City belongs to sixth district with the municipalities of Cordova and Consolacion represented by Sitoy and Ouano in the provincial legislative body.

Lapu-Lapu City used to be part of the district but was converted into a lone congressional district by then Rep. Nerissa Soon Ruiz.

Mandaue City now has a population of 318, 577 exceeding the 250,000 population threshold required of a legislative district.

In 1991, the Department of Interior and Local Government has recognized Mandaue City as a highly urbanized city.

Sitoy said that as to the question of what will happen to Cordova and Consolacion this will be part of the discussion once a bill is filed by Quisumbing in Congress.

Initially, Sitoy said that he already talked to the two town mayors and he was told that they are open to all possibilities.

Sitoy also agreed to the motion of some PB members to include all Cebu congressmen in his appeal once it is formally reduced into a resolution.(FREEMAN NEWS)