Lito’s Promdi to call the shots in Cebu politics

CEBU — Politics in this province will, from now on, be defined by Promdi (Probinsiya Muna Development Initiative), the dominant local political party recognized by the Arroyo administration.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the other day that she will not waste time dipping her fingers into local politics, particularly in the province, saying it is Promdi which now calls the shots here.

Promdi was founded by former governor Emilio "Lito" Osmeña in 1998 in his failed bid for the presidency.

Arroyo arrived here Saturday on her first official trip after she was elevated to the presidency in a military-backed popular uprising against former President Joseph Estrada.

In a press conference, Arroyo said her major concern is not to bring political parties together but to cut bureaucracy in government.

"I’m not meddling in local politics. I have a big problem in governance and that has to be my focus. I don’t think I should exhaust my energy in politics. We have a coalition and so Promdi is in charge in Cebu," Arroyo said.

The President said Promdi played a vital role in strengthening the coalition of opposition groups that succeeded in removing Estrada from power.

"Long before the other regions saw the need for a transition in governance of former President Estrada, Promdi was already calling for it," Arroyo said.

But when asked about the possible fusion of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and the Spirit of EDSA Coalition, the President merely said "critical collaboration is far different from unification." — Freeman News Service