Proposed divison of Camarines Sur province
Creation of Another Province in Camarines Sur Opposed
DEL GALLEGO, CAMARINES SUR (3 March 2011) - Although no serious petitions or legislative measures have surfaced on a proposal to separate 10 towns of the Partido district (4th district) of Camarines Sur province, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Cam. Sur chapter, Buhi Mayor Rey Lacoste said such proposal is presently unpopular and detrimental to the province which has 35 towns and two cities.
He remarked that when a bill was passed in 2008 to reapportion the province into the present five political districts, “many believed even until today that the creation of five congressional districts was a mere political accommodation to a son of a former President and another cabinet member, who are now both congressmen of the province.
During the monthly mobile conference of the LMP held in this town and hosted by Del Gallego Mayor Lydia B. Abarientos, both officials said that if a serious petition on the creation of another province arises, a majority of the LMP members will oppose the move.
Similarly, in a recent session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Second District Boardmember Boboy Nopra expressed strong opposition to any measure to divide the province into two.
But Fifth District Boardmember Emmanuel Llaguno claimed there are sectors in the said district who are pushing for the creation of another province, which will be called, Camarines Oriental.
Reportedly, the motive of the proposal is to alleviate the depressed conditions of the Partido communities and push for their own development agenda.
Sources in the Partido district revealed that barangay officials supporting Partido district Congressman Arnulfo “Noli” Fuentebella have started a signature campaign for the separation of the 10 towns of the 4th district as another province.
The Fuentebellas had a long line of family members who held political power in the said district since the pre-war years, yet the district had remained a depressed locality in the province for almost a century.