‘One Visayas’ bloc of governors pushed
CEBU CITY – Nine of the 16 Visayan governors have proposed the formation of a “One Visayas” bloc that aims to unite all provinces in Western, Eastern, and Central Visayas regions to address common issues and advocate for the people’s interests at the national stage.
The unanimous choice to lead the group and bring their collective voice to the national level was Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia who hosted a luncheon at the Cebu capitol on Aug. 5 as part of the province’s 455th founding anniversary celebration.
“She (Garcia) will be our unanimous, unopposed leader of the Visayas,” said Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone in an interview with Sugbo News, the official publication of the Cebu provincial government.
Aside from Evardone, the other governors who pushed for the creation of the One Visayas coalition were Governors Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo, Damian Mercado of Southern Leyte, Jake Villa of Siquijor, Joaquin Carlos Nava of Guimaras, Jose Enrique Miraflores of Aklan, Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental, Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol, and Garcia.
These nine governors also signed a manifesto of support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.
Like Cebu
Evardone said the One Visayas bloc can replicate Garcia’s One Cebu that gathered local chief executives in her province for a common goal.
“Of course we want to emulate Cebu, One Cebu. Who does not want unity? Everybody wants unity. We will have a very strong, united voice for the Visayas,” he said.
Villa said they will work hard to express and represent the sentiments of the people of their respective provinces.
“We’ll do the coordination first and then maybe we go from there and solidify the Visayas,” added the Siquijor governor.
Miraflores shared the same sentiment, adding: “If we, people in the Visayas, have one voice, then we can all the more ask help (from the national government and other regions).”
Defensor, for his part, said he is excited to work with other governors in the Visayas for a common purpose.
“We look forward to further collaboration with Cebu and other provinces of the Visayas. If we work together, we can maximize (our potentials),” he said.
