Cardinal Vidal joins groups opposing ‘split Cebu’ move
Mar 21, 2005
Municipal mayors, councilors, members of religious and militant groups and individuals who are against the proposals to divide the province of Cebu into two or three provinces have found an ally in Cebu Archbishop Cardinal Ricardo Vidal.
(The Manila Bulletin Online, 16-3-05) CEBU CITY — Describing the move to divide Cebu as "evil," Cardinal Vidal said the Church would not dare see her faithful in hot water on account of pursuing a very aggrandizing ambition of creating three provinces.
The Cardinal’s message was delivered by spokesman Monsignor Roberto Alesna before more than 1,000 delegates to the "Sugbu, Supak sa Pagbuakbuak" (Cebu, against divisions) summit at the SM City Cinema last Monday afternoon.
Vidal said in his message that although the improvement of basic services, the decentralization of power, and a more focused distribution of goods were promised in the proposals, it should not be treated as the last resort and even the first priority.
The Cardinal further said that the projection of large deficits for the new provinces would create more problems and prove that the plans are not sustainable and viable.
During the summit last Monday, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said that dividing Cebu would make the province fall off its ranking in the list of the country’s top revenue earners. She also gave a gloomy forecast for each of the districts seeking secession.
Garcia said that if the planned split is pushed through, Cebu province could incur a deficit of R185.17 million in one year, considering that total expenses can reach R553.62 million and an income of only R368.45 million.
"A divided Cebu will also face a drastic cut in Internal Revenue Allotment," Garcia warned. "I call on you, Cebuanos, by birth and by choice, let us all be Cebuanos by conscience. Let us defend the integrity of our province because as the whole country knows, Cebu is number one because we are one," the governor said.
The proposals to split Cebu into several provinces have drawn criticisms from Cebuanos, not only from government officials but also from ordinary citizens living in the different towns here.
Garcia, who has opposed the proposal, challenged the proponents of the divide-Cebu move to recall their bills from Congress "and face me in the next elections."
She said the solons wanted to create new provinces so they could rule these by themselves. "I would have to say that these bills do not reflect nor represent the sentiments of their constituents," Garcia said.
Two Cebuano legislators, Rep. Antonio Yapha of the third district and Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez of the fourth district, have filed separate bills creating the Province of Occidental Cebu and Province of Cebu del Norte, respectively.
Martinez’s husband ran for governor of Cebu last year, but lost to Garcia.
Rep. Simeon Kintanar of the second district is also coming up with his proposal to convert his district into a province. Kintanar, Martinez and Yapha are all on their third successive terms and are barred from seeking reelection in 2007.
Last Jan. 21, Yapha filed House Bill 3632 seeking to create Cebu Occidental province. Six days later, Martinez filed House Bill 3657 proposing the creation of Cebu del Norte.
Cardinal Vidal joins groups opposing ‘split Cebu’ move