Aileen definitely to push through with convert bill

CEBU, Philippines - Lawyer Michael Dignos of the Lapu-Lapu City Legal Office yesterday said the proposal to convert the lone district of Lapu-Lapu into a province, converting Olango Island into a town, and lumping six barangays to form another town will be found in just one bill that will be filed by congresswoman-elect Aileen Radaza, daughter of incumbent and Mayor-elect Paz Radaza and outgoing Rep. Arturo Radaza.

Dignos said the details are being prepared and will be scrutinized before the bill is submitted to congress.

As far as the Local Government Code is concerned, Olango and the barangays to be clustered are qualified to become towns, Dignos said.

These barangays are Marigondon, Agus, Maribago, Bankal, Pajac, and Suba-basbas.

Once a province, 44 positions will have to be filled up.

These positions are for a governor, a vice governor, 10 provincial board members, a city mayor, 2 municipal mayors, 3 vice mayors, 26 city and municipal councilors, and 2 congressmen.

Earlier, businessmen Efrain Pelaez who ran in the mayoralty and lost to the incumbent, said converting the district into a province will only widen the Radaza’s political dynasty.

Jonjie Gonzales, Lapu-Lapu City public information officer said Pelaez’s statement is unbelievable because the Radazas cannot occupy all positions.

There are only three politicians in the Radaza family, aside from City Councilor Hon. Harry “Don” Radaza, son of Rep. Arturo “Boy” Radaza’s brother lawyer Frank Radaza, who died in a plane crash, Gonzales said.

The Radaza camp challenged Pelaez to run for public office again. 

Lapu-Lapu City has a P1.5-billion annual budget, P600 million of which goes to programs and projects, while 45 percent goes to salaries and wages and operating expenses.

“With the creation of a Mactan province, our income will increase by over 50 percent, giving us more funds to use to deliver basic services and implement infrastructure projects. There will be internal revenue allotment (IRA) for the province, the component city, and the two municipalities. This can increase the income of the LGU. This can supplement the LGUs’ financial resources. The four LGUs can chart their own course and be closer to the people and implement faster delivery of services,” Mayor Radaza said.  (FREEMAN)