For fiscal and political autonomy

Samar’s first district officials push for the creation of a separate province

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
March 1, 2008

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  Bouyed by the promise of a fiscal and political autonomy, officials of Calbayog City trooped to the Samar’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan at Samar’s Capitol to convince the provincial board members of their move to create a separate province to be named Northwestern Samar.

On Thursday, February 28, 2008, Calbayog City councilor Julius Mancol took the floor and presented in PowerPoint the justifications why there should be a separate province.

Mancol cited that the population of Samar is growing, based on the latest National Statistics Office (NSO) record.

He said that it is difficult to manage a big province like Samar, with 24 municipalities and two cities.

He added that in terms of the basic social services, there is almost an absence in the first district. He cited that their district hospitals cease to treat but act merely as referral entities.

The official cited that Samar province places 13th biggest in area and in population in the entire nation.

In comparison, he cited the provinces of Sibugay, Dinagat and Batanes. He added that these are very small provinces that had been created.

He mentioned that Batanes has only six municipalities, 39 barangays with a land area of some 209 square kilometers and a population of 16, 467.

In the region, Mancol emphasized Biliran province composed of only a few municipalities and how so far has it progressed.

He said that even if only nine municipalities and one city belonging to District one will be created as one province, still the area, population and number of barangays, would qualify and would even be bigger than the mentioned ones.

By all angles and figures the province being proposed could qualify, yet the Sangguniang Panlalawigan still requires an ample time to study the implications that the proposal brings.

Vice Governor Jesus Redaja, presiding officer requested the proponents to allow the other provincial Board Members a thorough deliberation and a sufficient time to examine the proposal.

As it is, the Calbayog City officials brought with them Resolution Number 2008-02-030 sponsored by Hon. Julius Mancol of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Calbayog adopted on January 14, 2008 requesting the Honorable Congressman Reynaldo Uy (1st district of Samar) to file a bill creating a new province in Samar by converting the first legislative district of Samar into a Province of Northwestern Samar.