Visayas lawmakers form bloc

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-nine lawmakers from the Visayas have formed themselves into a bloc in the House of Representatives to have a powerful front in pushing key legislation, particularly those that would boost development in the provinces of the region.

Considered the head of the bloc is Negros Occidental third district Rep. Alfredo Benitez, who convinced his colleagues to unite so their districts could get more attention from the national government. The group held its first meeting on Wednesday.

“We want to be recognized as a legitimate and strong bloc in the House of Representatives. Except for issues that would require party decisions, the members also agreed to try to vote as one in all important legislation,” Benitez said.

“In fact, we already intend to make our presence felt in the budget hearings where we will lobby for government agencies to allocate adequate priority programs and resources for the Visayas,” he said.

Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas said the group is now identifying priority legislative measures that would ensure a fair share in government’s allocation of resources.

“There’s the Mindanao Alliance, the Tobacco Bloc. It took a visionary like Rep. Albee (Benitez) to spark what the Visayas has been wanting, a single voice, a Visayas Alliance,” Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco said.

Other members of the bloc are Reps. Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar), Mercedes Alvarez (Negros Occidental), George Arnaiz (Negros Oriental), Leo Cueva (Negros Occidental), Antonio del Rosario (Capiz), Oscar Garin (Iloilo), Arcadio Gorriceta (Iloilo), Paolo Javier (Antique), Evelio Leonardia (Bacolod City), Mian Mercado (Southern Leyte), Alejandro Mirasol (Negros Occidental), Joaquin Nava (Guimaras), Anne Marie Pernes (Siquijor), Rene Relampagos (Bohol), Regina Reyes (Marinduque), Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu), Pryde Henry Teves (Negros Oriental), Sharon Garin (Aambis-Owwa party-list), Pablo Nava (APPEND party-list), Gabriel Quisumbing (Cebu), Ace Durano (Cebu), Wilfredo Caminero, (Cebu), Arthur Defensor Jr. (Iloilo), and Cesar Sarmiento (Catanduanes).             – With Danny Dangcalan