New Cebu 7th district will bring ‘more development’

Open door for south of Cebu

 

Whoever is elected to represent Cebu’s new 7th congressional  district should be “aggressive” in developing southwest Cebu, said Gov. Hilario Davide III.

Most of this rural area is devoted to farming and fishing, with Moalboal town figuring prominently as a dive spot frequented by foreigners.

After the Senate approved the bill creating the new district on Tuesday, it needs only the signature of President Aquino to become a  law.

This means there’s a good chance south Cebu voters can elect a new congressman to represent eight towns in the 2016 polls: Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc and Ginatilan.

The other seven southern towns in the east coast remain in the 2nd district of Rep. Wilfredo Caminero, who is seeking reelection next year.

Governor Davide said the Liberal Party would support  Provincial Board Member Peter John Calderon in a bid for the new congressional seat next year.

Calderon’s twin brother Raymond Joseph Calderon is mayor of Samboan town.  (Their father Emerito Calderon was a former congressman of the 5th district in north Cebu.)

GARCIA CHALLENGER

A challenger is expected to be fielded by the rival One Cebu party of the Garcia clan.

Rep. Gwen Garcia of the 3rd district was a co-sponsor of the House bill creating the new district along with Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (4th district), Caminero and Aileen Radaza of the lone district of Lapu-Lapu.

Garcia said that based on initial talks with One Cebu party members, there may be someone to run against Calderon.

“We have been talking about it, but it’s too early to make an announcement,” Garcia said in a phone interview.

October is the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy.

Garcia herself is faced with a choice of seeking reelection or making a comeback in the Capitol to reclaim the Cebu governorship from Davide in 2016, a decision that has not yet been sealed.

Davide yesterday said he welcomed the Senate and House approval of  House Bill 4427 seeking to create a 7th legislative district since it would assure the entry of more projects in the south.

“Karon, mas gamay na lang ang mga towns each district, we can expect more development. That, if the congressman who will be representing these districts will be aggressive,” he said in a press conference yesterday.

Caminero, incumbent 2nd district representative, said he expects more projects to pour in his own district and the new one once the bill is signed into law by President Aquino.

“With additional representation in Congress, additional projects will also be implemented in the area soon,” he told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview.

The House approved the bill in 2014, then the Senate gave its approval on third and final reading last Tuesday.

The present 2nd district in south Cebu  accounted for one-third of the province’s 44 municipalities with the biggest number of barangays at 284, and the longest stretch of national roads at 246.8 kilometers among the six legislative districts of the province.

By dividing the area, the new district has a more manageable population of  200,092 based on the 2010 census.

Caminero said the present 2nd district is known for its heritage sites, beaches, and scenic spots.

Local and foreign tourists frequent Moalboal for diving while the  towns of Samboan, Badian and Alegria are hailed for their less-known waterfalls and canyoneering sites.

After the split, the 2nd district will continue to include municipalities of Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander and Samboan with a combined population of 223,360.

Boljoon town is the site of the 18th century Patrocinia de Maria church, a national heritage monument, while Oslob town is  known for its whale shark watching tourism activity in recent years.

With the approval of the split,  Congressman Caminero said he expects to see an improvement in southern Cebu’s agriculture sector as well.

“The precursor of agriculture is basic infrastructure, like farm-to-market roads. You cannot envision good productivity without that,” he said.

He said he expects additional representation in Congress to bring in more projects for access and farm-to-market roads and water systems, among others, since 80 percent of the area is made up of farming communities.

Caminero, who is on his first term in Congress, said he will seek re-election in next year’s polls.

The 57-year-old congressman said he had been considering retirement from politics, but the “needs of his constituents” keep him going.

“I can see that the only way to stop public service is to lose in an election. Until such time that I lose, that is the time that I will retire from public office,” he said.

For the new 7th district, Calderon, a lawyer, is being considered as the administration LP candidate.

Calderon, who is on his last term in the PB, said he will weigh his chances in the event the bill becomes a law in time for the polls.

Political bets have between October 12 to 16 this year to file their certificates of candidacy.

“If the party needs me, if they really want me to be their candidate, then maybe I’ll give it a try because I’m also in my last term already,” said Calderon in an interview.
He registered to vote in Ginatilan town in 2012.

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