EDITORIAL - Mactan province

A candidate for mayor in Lapu-Lapu City has an unusual mission for Mactan Island. Once elected, he said he would push for the establishment of the island as a separate province.

Jonard "Ahong" Chan, a member of Lapu-Lapu City Council, said creating the "Province of Mactan" out of Cebu would be more advantageous to the city since its share of the Internal Revenue Allotment will greatly improve. And an increased IRA would mean more funds to improve the delivery of basic services to the city's inhabitants, he said.

Chan, a businessman who is into seaweed farming, said part of his proposed Mactan province will be the town of Cordova and the Olango Island, which he will push to become a town.

In terms of population, income and area, Chan is confident that Mactan is very qualified to become a province.

Chan's proposal has no problem of getting the support of Cebuanos if it's really for the good of the Oponganons. It's good that he's after the welfare of Oponganons through improving delivery of basic services to them.

However, the proposal needs serious reconsideration because there are countless issues that need to be resolved.

Making Mactan a separate province would only make sense if Oponganons feel the need for a separate identify, if they no longer happy being part of the Cebu province.

Chan would definitely face an uphill battle to convince Cebuanos since he knows the chances of making Mactan a separate province are slim. He needs not just a prayer but a miracle for it to realize.

Lapu-Lapu City has just become a separate congressional district. And making Mactan Island a new province out of Cebu would definitely disenfranchise the people of Cordova who are part of Cebu's sixth district.

Besides, running for mayor is not the right launching pad for Chan to push for his move. He should have run for Congress. And if he wins, then he can file a bill creating the new province of Mactan.