Rising force in congress: 29 solons launch Visayan bloc

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A group of 29 congressmen launched last Wednesday a Visayan bloc to have a lobbying power in the House of Representatives in pushing for legislations that would advance the concerns of the three regions in the Visayas.

The launching was held in Quezon City, with majority of the 29 congressmen coming from the Visayas and a few, who were not from the Visayas but are sympathetic to the issues concerning the Visayas, according to Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (3rd dist., Negros Occidental).

Benitez said budget advocacy was among those in the agenda for the group. “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 legislations,” he said.

“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,” said Benitez.

Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas, who was eyed to head the group, said the Visayan bloc is in response to the urgent need for a united voice in order to better convey the needs of Visayas and a stronger push for Visayas to have a fair share in the allocation of resources and government programs.

The Visayan bloc will first focus on pushing policy reforms and programs on tourism. “This is a very important area of concern for us given that majority of the tourist spots in the country are in the Visayas,” Treñas said.

Benitez, the Liberal Party provincial chairman of Negros Occidental, added that among the initial plans of the group to boost tourism in the region is the establishment of a nautical highway connecting different islands in the Visayas.

Visayas is a potential tourism hub in the country and this is the uniting factor among the congressman in organizing the block, said Benitez, adding that the group is non-partisan and its members were united based on the common agency for improved delivery of services and enhanced economic development.

Aside from Benitez and Treñas, those who attended the meeting of the bloc from Western Visayas were: Reps. Teodorico Haresco (Aklan), Paolo Javier (Antique), Antonio Del Rosario (1st Dist., Capiz), Joaquin Nava (Guimaras), Oscar Garin (1st Dist., Iloilo), Arcadio Gorriceta (2nd Dist., Iloilo), Arthur Defensor Jr. (3rd, Dist., Iloilo), Leo Cueva (2nd Dist., Negros Occ), Alejandro Mirasol (5th Dist., Negros Occ), Mercedes Alvarez (6th Dist., Negros Occ) and Evelio Leonardia (Bacolod City).

From Central Visayas were: Reps. Rene Relampagos (1st Dist., Bohol), Wilfredo Caminero, (2nd Dist., Cebu), Benhur Salimbangon (4th Dist., Cebu), Ace Durano (5th Dist., Cebu), Gabriel Quisumbing (6th Dist., Cebu), George Arnaiz (2nd Dist., Negros Oriental), Pryde Henry Teves (3rd Dist., Negros Or.) and Anne Marie Pernes (Siquijor).

From Eastern Visayas were Reps. Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar) and Mian Mercado (Lone Dist., Southern Leyte), while from party-lists were Reps. Sharon Garin (AAMBIS-OWWA) and Pablo Nava (APPEND).

Others who were not from the Visayas but joined the bloc were Reps. Sonny Collantes (3rd Dist., Batangas), Cesar Sarmiento (Catanduanes). Gina Reyes (Marinduque) and Pedro Acharon (1st Dist., South Cotabato).

Leonardia told The Freeman that the move to form the Visayan bloc is now snowballing in Congress, with others outside the Visayas interested to join. “We hope to be a force to reckon with as far as the House dynamics is concerned,” he added. (FREEMAN)