With Gwen as its leader: ‘One Visayas Bloc’ eyed

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and eight other governors from the Visayas regions have pushed to form a new bloc called “One Visayas,” with her as its leader.

These governors are Arthur Defensor, Jr. (Iloilo); Damian Mercado (Southern Leyte); Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar); Jake Villa (Siquijor); Joaquin Carlos “JC” Nava (Guimaras); Jose Enrique Miraflores (Aklan); Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson (Negros Occidental); and Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol).

In a report by Sugbo News, the Cebu Capitol’s official media arm, this cooperation of the Visayas chief executives aims to make the provinces in the Visayas to unite.

As reported, the unity of the Visayas regions is eyed to address mutual challenges and raise the common interests of the region at the national level.

In the same report, the Visayas governors have unanimously favored Garcia to lead them if the bloc will come into reality.

The Visayas leaders believe that their united voice will be brought to the national level through the Cebu governor’s leadership.

“She’ll be our unanimous, unopposed leader of the Visayas,” Evardone said in the same Sugbo News report.

Currently, Garcia leads the “One Cebu” party, the dominant political party in Cebu province.

The proposal was presented during a ceremony and lunch Garcia hosted last Monday at the Capitol Social Hall, during the formal opening event of the month-long celebration of the 455th founding anniversary of Cebu Province yesterday, August 6.

The Visayas governors have expressed their affirmation to the creation of the bloc.

“Para mas malakas tayo na makahingi ng tulong, mas maigi nalang kung at least may isang boses din tayong mga Bisaya,” Miraflores in the same Sugbo News report.

“We’ll do the coordination first and then siguro we go from there; maybe solidify the Visayas,” Villa also said.

Meanwhile, Evardone said they want to follow the One Cebu strategy of unity being bannered in Cebu province.

“Of course, we want…to emulate Cebu, One Cebu. Who does not want unity? Everybody wants unity. We will have a very strong, united voice for the Visayas,” he likewise said.

Defensor, on the other hand, said he looks forward to a collaboration and exchange among the peoples of the Visayas regions.

“We look forward to further collaboration work with Cebu and other provinces of the Visayas. Ang people exchange din natin dito sa Visayas, alam naman natin yan. And if we work together, we can maximize that,” he told Sugbo News.

In the same event last Monday, the Visayas governors also signed a manifesto of support for President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and his Bagong Pilipinas policy direction, accepting Garcia’s challenge to lead their respective provinces to support the Marcos administration.

On the other hand, the Visayas governors and their provincial health officers also received on the same day the “Bagong Pilipinas” mobile clinics, which were aimed towards the enhancement of healthcare services in their respective jurisdictions.

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, who graced the opening ceremony of the founding anniversary celebration, led the turnover ceremony for a mobile clinic each to the 16 Visayas provinces.

The 16 provinces are Aklan, Guimaras, Bohol, Northern Samar, Leyte, Siquijor, Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Negros Occidental, Antique, Capiz, Samar, and Cebu.

Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa and Undersecretary Dr. Glenn Mathew Baggao were also present during the turnover ceremony.

Services of the mobile clinic include X-ray, ultrasound, and blood screening.

The mobile clinic is also equipped with ultrasound examination light, reagent refrigerator, binocular microscope, stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, clinical centrifuge, hematocrit centrifuge, hematology analyzer, handheld electrolyte analyzer, and a telemedicine set. — (FREEMAN)