Moves to divide Cebu opposed

CEBU — Local political pillars have voiced strong opposition to proposals in the House of Representatives to divide Cebu into several provinces.

"Dividing Cebu is not good for the Cebuanos," said first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas who, however, admitted that the proposals have a great chance of being approved in the House and Senate.

Gullas said he frankly told the proponents that he cannot accept the reasons behind splitting Cebu into several provinces.

Two Cebuano legislators — Reps. Antonio Yapha (third district) and Clavel Martinez (fourth district) — have filed separate House bills creating the provinces of Occidental Cebu and Cebu del Norte.

Yapha reportedly filed the first bill last Jan. 21, while Martinez filed the second on Jan. 26.

Yapha’s House Bill 3632 seeks to convert the entire third district, which is composed of the towns of Asturias, Tuburan, Balamban, Pinamungajan, Barili and Aloguinsan and Toledo City, into the province of Occidental Cebu.

Martinez’s House Bill 3657 wants to create the Cebu del Norte province out of the fourth district, which is comprised of the towns of Bogo, Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Tabogon, San Remegio, Madridejos, Medellin, Santa Fe and Tabuelan.

Aside from Yapha and Martinez, second district Rep. Simeon Kintanar and sixth district Rep. Nerissa Soon Ruiz are also planning to file their own bills converting their respective districts into separate provinces.

Former fifth district Rep. Joseph Ace Durano, who is now the tourism secretary, is reportedly in favor of converting his district into a separate province.

Gullas admitted that the bills could succeed because they would not be subjected to an extensive debate and interpellation since they are considered local measures.

He, however, said he would rise against the bills when they are formally presented during the plenary session.

"Even if I’m alone, I’m against it. It’s not good for Cebu," he said.

Gullas said the bills would have no difficulty passing through the Senate. Yapha claimed that Sen. Serge Osmeña, a Cebuano, and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel would sponsor their Senate versions.

Former governor Pablo Garcia said Cebuanos would not allow Cebu to be divided.

Describing the proposals as "impractical and unwise," Garcia said they are self-serving and politically motivated because their proponents want to have a turf of their own.

Yapha and Martinez are both last-termers who cannot run for re-election in 2007. Garcia said Cebu would lose its clout once it is divided into several provinces.

He said the proponents’ argument that dividing Cebu would hasten the development of the towns is totally baseless.

Garcia cited the case of Samar, which was divided into three provinces but remains a laggard economically.

Cebu Municipal Mayors’ League president Ronald Allan Cesante of Dalaguete town said a scientific study should be done to determine if dividing Cebu would be good for Cebuanos.

"An honest-to-goodness study is needed and a scientific study should be done," Cesante told The Freeman.

Cesante said the league will discuss the proposals during its general membership meeting on Feb. 17.

If the purpose of dividing Cebu is to get more financial assistance from the national government, he said, "They may be in the right direction."

Garcia, who served as governor for nine years, said some towns receive less financial assistance from the provincial government because congressmen who have control over the mayors, do not want them to go to the governor for political reasons.

Garcia asked Yapha and Martinez to rethink their proposals and set aside their personal political agenda.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, for his part, described the proposals as a "very selfish move" by some politicians.

"I’m against it. I’m willing to make a proposal to make Cebu City under the province because that’s the way it should be. Look at the provinces that split up, are they better off today?" Osmeña asked, citing the provinces of Northern and Southern Samar, Northern and Southern Leyte, North and South Cotabato, and Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur.

"If we don’t understand our history, we would be victims of wrong circumstances. Let’s not be selfish, let’s think about the future, let’s think about unity than divisiveness," he said.

Capitol legal consultant Pablo John Garcia, speaking in behalf of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, said the proponents’ motive is purely political.

Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez also opposed the proposals, saying they would make Cebu more prone to political dynasties. — Freeman News Service