Jonas to solons: Listen to people's sentiments

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes has urged all Cebuano congressmen to listen to the sentiments of the people.

Cortes, during an interview with reporters yesterday, said that it appears there are politicians nowadays who tend to forget to listen to the sentiments of the people who elected them.

He said that whatever issues may arise politicians should hear the clamors of the people.

Cortes said clamor in Mandaue City to become a lone congressional district is similar to the clamor of the 11 barangays in Olango island that wish to separate from Lapu-Lapu City and form another town.

Cortes said the proposal to convert Olango island into a municipality will not affect Lapu-Lapu City at all since Lapu-Lapu Cty is already a lone district.

"Kay basig gusto na nila mobarog sa ilang kaugalingon, independenting mobuwag sa Lapu-Lapu," Cortes said.

He said he doesn't know what the future holds for Lapu-Lapu City and for Olango island but he believes once Olango becomes a town there is a possibility that it might open new opportunities such that it might become a province just like Biliran island.

However, Cortes reiterated that the move or the manifesto signed by 11 barangay captains of Olango Island for the conversion of their island into a town will not affect Mandaue's desire to convert the city into a lone district.

Another possibility is that Olango might join the towns of Cordova and Consolacion to compose the sixth district.

"Usa na sa mga options. Let us explore all the possibilities nga mahitabo, dili ta mangita og rason nga dili mahimo. Atong pangitaan og solusyon," Cortes said.

Cortes said the province of Cebu has always lacked representation as there have only been seven congressional districts since the time of Don Sergio Osmeña in 1907.

104 years have passed but the province has only nine districts and the population of the province has been increasing.

He said there is the need to address this problem because the moment that more districts will be created it will also mean more additional projects for the province.

He said that although he would continue to push for the conversion of Mandaue into a lone congressional district, he himself will not initiate the people's initiative and will just only wait for the people to do it and will be supporting it along the way.

However, he is glad with the way things are happening right now as all the 27 barangay captains of the city are 100 percent supportive of his desire to convert the city into a lone district.

"Kung ila nang babagan, kataw-anan kaayo mawala na ang essence sa public service. Mao bitaw nga nay giingon nga "the government is for the people by the people,"dili nato pakgangon kon unsay gusto sa katawhan. Palihug tan-awa una. Ayaw diretso hukmi kon wala pa jud ninyo masuta kon unsay sentimento sa katawhan," Cortes said.