Sitoy eyes Mactan as a lone province

CEBU, Philippines - Former Cordova mayor Celedonio Sitoy is eyeing the creation of Mactan Island into a separate province from Cebu if elected congressman of Lapu-Lapu City’s lone district.

But first, Celedonio said, he would push for the conversion of the Olango group of islands into a municipality to join Lapu-Lapu City and the town of Cordova to compose the new Mactan Province.

The main island of Olango, composed of barangays Baring, Caw-oy, Sabang, Santa Rosa, Talima, Tingo, Tungasan and San Vicente, and the island barangays of Pangan-an and Caohagan, are under the administration of Lapu-Lapu City.

Celedonio, a doctor by profession, said he will seek the legal expertise of his brother, incumbent Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy, in pursuing his plan.

Celedonio bared his plans after he filed his certificate of candidacy for congressman under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan and local group Partido Kusgano, which is named after Datu Lapu-Lapu.

Celedonio said he would work with the congressmen in the sixth and fifth district on his plans.

He explained that the problems to be addressed in Mactan and the surrounding islets are all inter-related, which prompted him to seek a higher position.

Sitoy shared his plans with mayoralty candidate Rolando Patalinjug.

They said they will focus on health programs and infrastructure projects that are left unattended by the present administration.

Sitoy against Sitoy

Meanwhile, The FREEMAN learned that it would be a Sitoy fighting against a sibling in the race for Cordova town’s mayoral post in the 2016 polls.

Vice Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho will be challenged by her half brother, Provincial Board Member Arleigh Sitoy, for the mayoral post.

Their father, Adelino, will run as vice mayor of Mary Therese with nominations from the Liberal Party.

Cordova is an important component in the Metro Cebu area where a 1,500-hectare reclamation is being proposed. Resorts complimenting those of neighboring Lapu-Lapu City are also located in this third-class municipality whose annual budget is around P100 Million.

The town will also host a future alternative route to the Mactan Cebu International Airport once the third Mactan-Cebu bridge is completed, connecting Cordova directly to Cebu City. Construction of the bridge starts in 2017.

“It’s awkward but may the best sibling win nalang,” said Mary Therese when asked about his impending political tussle with Arleigh.

It, however, would be a friendly competition without black propaganda, says the incumbent vice mayor.

“I respect my brother since he is family to me. I just want to continue what my papa has started in Cordova—a tradition of excellence in public service and generosity to people,” Mary Therese said.  (FREEMAN)