An act creating Brgy Banawa Englis: Cuenco files bill splitting G'lupe

CEBU – True to his word about the split, Cebu City South district Rep. Antonio Cuenco filed House Bill 5234 or an Act creating barangay Banawa Englis in the City of Cebu last September 30.

Cuenco’s proposed bill aims to separate the sitios of Banawa and Englis from barangay Guadalupe, the most populous barangay in the Visayas Region with a population of 49,956 based on the 2007 Census.

Cuenco in his seven-page bill explained that the to be created barangay Banawa Englis has a population of approxinately 40 percent of the total population of barangay Guadalupe.

“For the last 15 years, the residents of Banawa Englis have been strongly and consistently clamoring to convert their place into a full-pledged barangay in view of the fact that they have not been getting the necessary basic community services,” Cuenco said.

Cuenco added that voluminous petitions were already sent to the Cebu City Council and to him about the matter as he hopes that it would get an early approval by the members of the House of Representatives and in the Senate.

The seat of barangay government of barangay Banawa Englis shall be located at the old Sitio Banawa, the bill reads.

The proposal also stipulates that the Commission on Elections shall be the one to conduct and supervise the plebiscite to be held in the area affected within 30 days from the date the said Act is effective.

It added that the amount necessary for the conduct of the plebiscite shall be charged against the contingency fund of Comelec.

Once this bill is approved, the new barangay as well as what remains of the old one shall be entitled to Internal Revenue Allotment shares as provided for under Section 285 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.

Cuenco’s proposed measure added that the corporate existence of the newly-created barangay shall commence upon the election and qualification of its punong barangay and majority of the members of its sangguniang barangay in a special election which will be held within one year following the ratification of the said Act in the plebiscite.

Under the bill, the new barangay Banawa Englis will encompass the following puroks in Banawa — Eskina Banawa, Verano Compound I and II, Falek Compound and Sundance Court, Damiana’s Compound, Banawa Riverside, Caimito, Tambis, Cristina Village, Josefa Village, Woodland Heights, Pacana Compound, Windy Hills, Sambag, Remedios, Greenwille, Lomboy, Kawayan, San Roque, Santo Niño, Rosalina Village, Kalubihan, Kabulakan, Kasagingan, SAmpaguita, Kamanggahan, Katugasa, Forest Hills Subdivision, Go Chan Subdivision, Maria Luisa South, White Hills, Golden Ville, Sta. Ana, Francisca Village, Horseshoe Hills Subdivision, Filomena Village and Paseo Arcenas.

Those in Englis are Happy Valley, Sudina, Zodiac Ville, San Roque EPRA, ESCO, EYHA, Department of Agriculture, Englis Riverside Association, Espina Village, SUSCO, Lower Happy Valley, Limkakeng Subdivision, CYPA, PERPASS, YGA, Fatima, Lorenzo Drive, EPRA and NOGRA.

The bill stated that the territorial boundary of barangay Banawa Englis shall be as follows — from the east going south starting from the bridge at M. Velez St. to share common boundary with barangay Capitol, which is the Guadalupe River going down and up to the bridge at B. Rodriguez St; turning right towards the west and starting from the bridge at B. Rodriguez St, and passing along the same street up to the corner of Happy Valley St., then turn left following the same street up to and across Rosalina Subdivision and thereafter, to share all the time the existing boundaries of barangays Calamba, Labangon, Tisa and Buhusan; starting from the east at the Guadalupe bridge and along M. Velez St. going west up to the corner of V. Rama Avenue, turn right towards the north and along V. Rama Avenue up to the corner of Suzara St. turn left towards the west and along the same street to cut across and along the outer edges of Damiana’s Compound up to the dry small creek; Following the northward direction of the creek up to the portion directly behind the outer edges of the lots of Villa Salud Subdivision up to the junction of Quijada (Doña Modesta) and the unnamed street leading towards the Maria Luisa South Subdivision; thereafter to follow a westerly imaginary straight line up to the hills where the west-northwest boundary lines of barangay Buhisan and Sapangdaku.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña had earlier criticized Cuenco of “doing the right thing for the wrong reason” on the proposed planned in splitting the populous barangay Guadalupe into two.

Such accusations however were denied by the Cebuano legislator.

Cuenco said that he is very serious on his proposal and pursue this to the limit despite objections from anyone as this is one of his good legacies before he will leave from government service in 2010.

The proposed bill will be scheduled for deliberation by the House committee on local government.

Once the proposed bill is approved by the committee, this will go to the plenary for the voting of the members of the House. Once approved in the House, this will go through the Senate for concurrence before this will be approved by the President.

Cuenco further said that 60 days after the approval by the President, a plebiscite can then be conducted. – (NLQ) (THE FREEMAN)