BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Three governors, as chairmen of their respective Regional Development Council in the Visayas region, met for the first time in Cebu City over the weekend to discuss development projects and programs.
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., RDC-Region 6 chairman, said he met with Bohol Governor Edgardo Chatto, RDC-Region 7 chairman, and Leyte Governor Leopoldo Petilla, RDC-Region 8 chairman, as well as all regional directors of the National Development Authority.
Marañon said they elected Petilla as overall chair of the RDC in the Visayas. “We talk about development projects and programs for the Visayas,” Marañon said, adding that all proposals were collated.
As RDC-6 chair, Marañon had been pushing for equitable share of the national funds for Western Visayas and the realization of the Negros-Panay bridge project.
Marañon said Western Visayas has not been getting its fair share of the national budget since there’s a big difference in the allocation between his region and the others.
He said the Negros-Panay bridge, which needs a feasible study that will take years to complete, will bring economic development to both Panay and Negros.
When asked if they talked about politics, especially on who the three governors will support in the presidential elections in 2016, Marañon said: “No politics.”