Davide Vows Support For Metro Cebu Development Body

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III has pledged to keep supporting the Mega Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) if he gets reelected in the May 9 elections.

The MCDCB is pushing for the passage of a law creating the Mega Cebu Development Authority (MCDA).

All of the nine Cebu district representatives in the Lower House pushed for the bill to create the MCDA, which gained approval at the committee level last January.

But the MCDA bill will have to be refiled in the next Congress.

The MCDA, as proposed, will be co-chaired by the governor and will bring together 13 cities and towns, from Carcar City in the south to Danao City in the north, and private sector representatives.

Davide said there is a need for local governments (LGUs) to consult and work closely with the private sector in fixing a long list of challenges, which includes easing traffic, preventing floods and making Cebu more competitive.

Davide said he views the governor’s role as that of “an enabler and facilitator for everybody involved in our desire to have a livable Cebu.”

“Under the Local Government Code, the powers of the governor are awesome. But we need to share this with the private sector. They also have a stake,” Davide said.

Davide and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale presented what they’ve done since 2013 and answered questions during the final Decision 2016 forum organized by MCDCB and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.

In an earlier forum, lawyer Winston Garcia, the gubernatorial candidate of One Cebu party, said he would prefer to work for amendments to the charter of Cebu Province to broaden the governor’s “coordinative powers,” instead of the creation of the MCDA. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS