Immediate release of funds for plebiscite sought

CEBU, Philippines - The plebiscite, through which the residents of barangay Guadalupe in Cebu City will decide on whether to split the barangay or not, is finally set on March 13.

Cebu City south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco, who authored Republic Act No. 9905 or an “Act Creating a Barangay to be Known as Barangay Banawa-Englis in the City of Cebu,” will personally request the Commission on Elections to release the plebiscite funds to the Comelec in Cebu City south district so preparations for the plebiscite would be done immediately.

The Comelec, through Resolution No. 8773, which was approved and promulgated last February 17 and signed by Comelec chairman Jose Melo and five of its commissioners, resolved that March 13 will be the plebiscite day while the plebiscite period has officially started from February 16 to March 17 of this year.

Cuenco said that the Comelec has finalized the date and it will not be postponed or rescheduled anew. The Malacañang, through his request, has also released the P1.5 million plebiscite budget so there will be no reason anymore why the plebiscite should not be held.

“Let the people of Guadalupe decide on their own destiny. Atong hatagan og hingpit na kagawasan ang haring lungsod sa Guadalupe sa paghukom sa ilang kaugmaon,” Cuenco said.

He also appealed to both sides, especially to the opposition, not to insert undue pressure to each other for a peaceful referendum on March 13. “Wala unta’y pinugsanay, wala unta’y hulga-ay,” he said.

Cuenco said that he will vote a “yes” but he will not campaign so as not to antagonize those who are not in favor of the split.

“Now, I’ll ask Comelec Manila to remit right away to Cebu part of the budget that Malacañang has given them kay nireklamao ang Comelec diri nga wala pa sila makadawat og bisag gamay na lang na sa maong girelease na P1.5 million plebiscite funds,” Cuenco said.

He said that the funds are badly needed now to start the publication of the notice on the holding of plebiscite which should be published 10 days prior to the plebiscite day.

“Hapit na kaayo, piit na kaayo ang mga preparasyon kay gawas sa publication, duna pa ta’y laing incidents of expenses,” he said.

The plebiscite will start at 7 a.m. and will end at 3 p.m. The counting shall start immediately so the result is expected to be out by 5 p.m.

The ballot will be printed in Manila which shall contain the question, “Do You approve the creation of a new barangay to be segregated from barangay Guadalupe, to be named as barangay Banawa-Englis, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9905, approved on January 7, 2010 by her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?”

Cuenco said that Comelec insisted the question to be in English because it is required by the law. He proposed earlier that the question to be printed in Bisaya for easy comprehension.

His proposal is to translate the question to “Uyon ba mo na magmugna og bag-ong barangay nga nganlan og Banawa-Englis dinhi sa dakbayan sa Sugbo?”

“Ingun sila di sila maka-deviate niana. But kung gusto kitang Binisya-on, maka-insturct ta sa atog mga educator na mao nay meaning niana,” Cuenco said.

The legislator said that if “yes” wins, it will be good news for residents of Banawa-Englis because they will have their own set of barangay officials who will lead them and they will have their own share of the Internal Revenue Allotment that will allow them to get the basic services they have been asking from the local government.

For the residents at Guadalupe proper, Cuenco said that there is no reason to be worried because even if their IRA share will be reduced, the reduction will be computed in the national level and it shall be enough for the remaining population once Banawa-Englis is separated.— Jessica Ann R. Pareja/WAB (THE FREEMAN)