Cebu businessmen support Garcia's Senate bid

MANILA, Philippines - The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) believes that Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia can be an asset to the Senate.

“Based on her performance as governor of Cebu for three terms, I could say she has done a commendable job in making Cebu as the number one province nationwide. Maybe, Cebu would be now a small area for her to serve,” CCCI president Prudencio Gesta said.

Gesta said Garcia will be a pride of Cebu, adding that what she had done for the province will be shared with other places in the country.

Gesta, however, clarified that the CCCI is not a political body and their members have the freedom to choose their candidates.           

Gesta met with Garcia last week to discuss the “Serbisyo Eskwela Turismo” program to be implemented this year. SET, a joint program of the capitol, CCCI, Cebu universities and colleges and local government units, aims to raise the standards of the local tourism industry.

Garcia has declared her bid to run for senator in the 2013 elections, adding that she was counting on the support of all Cebuano and Visayan-speaking voters.

“Yes, I will run for the Senate, and I am doing this not for myself. I am doing this for Cebu,” Garcia said after an evening caucus of the One Cebu party at the Marco Polo Plaza last week.

The governor, who is on her third and last term, said the move would strengthen her political party through an alliance with Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The United Nationalists Alliance party of Binay and former President Joseph Estrada has promised Garcia a slot in its senatorial line up.

Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas, former Cebu governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña and former congresswoman Risa Hontiveros-Baraquiel were among those who had expressed their support for Garcia’s senatorial bid.