If elected Congressman John O. to revive Cebu split move

CEBU, Philippines —  Toledo City Mayor John Henry "Sonny" Osmeña is planning to make a separate province composed of the midwest towns of the Province of Cebu if he wins as congressman in the third district this coming election.

During the proclamation rally of Osmeña's team, Alagad, in Toledo City last Friday, he said this will be the first bill he would file.

"Mao kana ang akong unang i-file ngadto sa kongreso isip balaod. Balaod nga mag create og probinsya, Occidental Cebu nga gikan sa Barili ngadto sa Tuburan" he added. (That would be the first bill that I will file, a bill for the creation of another province, Occidental Cebu, which is from Barili to Tuburan.)

Osmeña aims to make Toledo City and the third district more progressive through more funds from the national government.

Occidental Cebu, he said, will carry two congressional districts, meaning aside from having its own governor vice governor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the new province will also have two representatives in Congress.

In his message, Osmeña said this is also the reason why he decided to support the gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial bid of Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and Governor Hilario Davide III.

Magpale and Davide both attended the rally in Toledo City last Friday.

Magpale, for her part, said she is "open" to having a separate province.

The vice governor said, as she went around Cebu island, there are towns, especially those in the far areas, that need more development.

"Like in Pilar, mga lagyo, hinay gyud ang development that's why I'm open to dividing Cebu" Magpale said.

But she recognizes that having a separate province needs a careful study and making this happen also needs a plebiscite.

Magpale also revealed that she and Davide are officially supporting the candidacy of Osmeña, abandoning the candidacy of Geraldine Yapha, her ally in the third district

Magpale said, this was a party decision as mayors under their camp in the said district decided to support Osmeña.

She said, she had talked to the mayors three weeks ago and she was also able to explain this to Yapha.

"By the time they got to me, the mayors had already decided. I had to go along," Magpale said adding that Yapha still expressed support for her candidacy. — MBG (FREEMAN)