5th district leaders back guv against Sugbuak bills

Leaders of Danao City and 10 towns of Cebu's Fifth District signed a manifesto announcing their full support to Governor Gwen Garcia's move to oppose the Sugbuak Bills, which seek to create three more provinces out of the present Cebu province.

The manifesto cited the leadership of Governor Garcia has raised Cebu's economy, improved its peace and order situation, and brought more benefits to the Cebuanos.

"We rally behind Governor Garcia in all her efforts to manage the province of Cebu through well planned development policies and programs and implementing them with iron hands," stated the manifesto.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, Rep. Ramon "Red" Durano VI, Provincial Board member Agnes Magpale, and Danao City Mayor Ramonito Durano III led in signing the manifesto, together with leaders of each town of the district.

They were Mayors Jesus Fernandez (Pilar), Gary Rama (Poro), Al Arquillano (San Francisco), Estrella Aribal (Catmon), Maria Sevilla (Liloan), Neal Vergara (Borbon), Lissa Marie Durano (Sogod), and Antonio Dangoy (Compostela).

Others were former mayor Amitys Batao of Carmen, and councilor Erwin Yu of Tudela.

In a related development, Danao City Mayor Durano III led Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya, a political organization in the district in approving a resolution calling also for support of Governor Garcia's fight against Sugbuak.

The BARUG resolution advocated for a strong and united opposition against Sugbuak while backing the governor's economic and development program for Cebu province.

"The House Bills dividing Cebu are acts inimical to the best interest of the Cebuano people and which would serve only the selfish interests, if not the whims and caprices, of the authors, aside from their dubious agenda, especially now that Cebu has earned a big name in the world of commerce and tourism," stated the resolution partly.

The group further said the people of Cebu province-not only those from the Fifth District-should know that the proposed Sugbuak bills were motivated to destroy the historical legacy of the province.

Governor Garcia, for her part, said she welcomed the support of the political leaders, and promised to double her efforts for the good of the Fifth District.

Unity of the Cebuanos is imperative especially against those who have personal interests in seeking to divide Cebu, said the governor.

Representatives Clavel Asas Martinez, Simeon Kintanar and Antonio Yapha were the authors of the Sugbuak Bills. - Jose P. Sollano/RAE