Senate panel consults CamSur folk on creation of new province

MANILA, Philippines - Senators Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Manny Villar Jr. will be going to Naga City today to consult the residents on the pending proposal to divide Camarines Sur into two provinces by creating Nueva Camarines.

The Senate committee on local government with constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws is conducting a hearing at 10 a.m. today at the Naga City Coliseum in Camarines Sur.

Incumbent Gov. LRay Villafuerte and his father, Rep. Luis Villafuerte, are on opposing sides on the issue.

As this developed, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV reiterated yesterday that he is against House Bill 4820, which seeks to divide Camarines Sur into two provinces.

“Legislating the division of a province when there is no compelling reason to do so is an unwise and risky move for us to take, and this will likely set a bad precedent for future lawmakers,” said Trillanes, a member of the Senate committee on local government.

In a statement, Trillanes said carving out a new province out of Camarines Sur will only lessen the internal revenue allotment of the existing provinces.

He believes that the move will also hamper the delivery of basic services.

“If we divide CamSur now, what will stop other provinces, such as Quezon, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas from dividing their provinces? I suggest that we abandon this move and scrap the measure,” said Trillanes who hails from Bicol.

The measure, passed on third reading by the House of Representatives, is pending in the Senate committee on local government.