Mayors Disagree Over Moves to Split First District

At least two mayors of the first congressional district do not support the recent attempts to divide their district into two.

“Ang first district gamay ra man gud, unom ra kalungsod. Pero di nimo ma-compare ang first district sa 2nd district. Ang second district tuyukon kaayo, 15 pa gyud ka lungsod, ang first district kay unom ra (towns and cities), maabot ra pud og 45 minutes from Cebu City to Sibonga,” said Carcar City Mayor Nice Apura.

However, Apura said if first district Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas approves the split, they will still support him.

Minglanilla Mayor Lani Peña, meanwhile, said there must be a series of studies first to see if it is advantageous to all three towns and three cities the plan to split the district.

“Tun-an pa na, sa akong part lang. Pero as of now, usa lang sa una kay maayo ra man pagkada ni Cong. (Gullas) ang first district,” said Peña.

It was Gov. Hilario Davide III who suggested that the first district, which has three big cities (Talisay, Carcar and Naga) and three towns, be divided. He said this is to give opportunities to those who want to serve as congressmen and that the towns will be given more attention by their congressman.

Davide’s statement came after the proposal to split the second district got the approval of the House of Representatives.