Letter to the Editor — Creating new provinces

The newspaper the other day bannered the passage in the Local Government Committee of the three bills proposing to create the provinces of Cebu del Sur, Cebu Occidental and Cebu del Norte. To quote Cong. Eddie Gullas, that's "the first quarter." The second quarter contest will be in the Senate, the third in Malacañang. The last quarter will be the plebiscite.

Judging by the way astute politicians engineered the quick and almost unnoticed passage of the law making the municipality of Talisay into a city, the creation of the three new provinces is almost certain.

Not sufficiently explored in the stories is the fact that the remaining Province of Cebu will be composed of the 5th District uneasily ruled by a fractious Durano clan, the 6th District where the Ouanos lord over Mandaue (but with Cong. Nerry Soon-Ruiz and ex Gov. Tingting dela Serna very closely observing the run of events) and Mayor Boy Radaza confident of a huge majority in Lapu-Lapu City. And none of them comfortable working with the others. And finally the 300,000 or so voters of the 1st Congressional District. The key player shall be Cong. Eddie Gullas, former governor. He alone rules unopposed.

Junie Martinez with his usual 80,000 to 100,000 comfortable majority in the north becomes irrelevant. Incumbent Gov. Gwen Garcia, with her far south bailiwick (is it Dumanjug? Or maybe Barili?) and Ormoc roots, is minor.

A very interesting thought.

(Sgd.) Evaristo dela Peña
Basak, Mandaue City