For lobby power: Solons form Visayas bloc in Congress

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Congressmen from the Visayas have formed their own bloc to have a lobbying voice in Congress that will ensure development in the three Visayan regions.

Representative Alfredo Benitez (3rd district, Negros Occ), one of the conveners, said the Visayas bloc is initially composed of 15 congressmen from Western and Eastern Visayas regions.

Congressmen from the different districts in the Visayas gathered to form the group regardless of party affiliation. "Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas is being eyed to head the bloc," he said.

Benitez, the Liberal Party chairman for Negros Occidental, said they are expecting about 15 more Visayas congressmen to join the group. There are 30 members of the House of Representatives, including those from party-lists, coming from the Visayas regions, he said.

Benitez said there are congressmen from outside the Visayas who were also interested in joining the bloc. "They feel that our camaraderie and bonding is something they would like to be with," he said.

Bacolod City Rep. Evelio Leonardia said the move to form the Visayan bloc has been snowballing in Congress, with others outside the Visayas interested to join. "We hope to be a force to reckon with as far as the House dynamics is concerned," he said.

One of the bloc's thrusts is to collectively promote tourism in the region, considering its internationally-acclaimed tourism destinations, Benitez said, adding that the Visayas is a potential tourism hub in the country that could be the uniting factor among the congressmen here.

The core group agreed that there is a need to establish more infrastructures such as roads to provide access to different tourism destinations in Visayas. "It is a bloc that can help each other not only in the development of their respective districts, but also more of their political aspirations," Benitez said.

The bloc conducted another meeting yesterday and discussed with newcomers the group's basic principles, revisit their objectives and goals, and formalize the election of officers. Benitez added that there are also existing Central Luzon and Mindanao blocs. — (FREEMAN)