Division

Barangays from the Partido district or the Fourth Congressional District of Camarines Sur had been reported to have submitted resolutions to their congressman, Rep. Arnulfo “Noli” Fuentebella, seeking the secession of the district's 10 municipalities in order to establish a new province, Eastern Camarines or Camarines Oriental. The reported reason for this effort is in order for these municipalities' development agenda be prioritized and pursued by the would-be new province.

There is, of course, more than meets the eye in this much disputed effort of dividing Camarines Sur into two provinces. And certainly, many of the considerations have been propounded publicly through print, broadcast, and even through the "new media." We believe these are worth rehearsing if only to appreciate the many sides of this issue, and eventually come to judge the merits of the proposal. For doubtless, the decision to divide the province would have an enormous political and economic impact on us.

Immediately after news broke about the barangay resolutions, the Fuentebellas had been accused of maneuvering this. The charge is understandable: many view that it is this old political clan which will benefit tremendously from the wresting of political power from Camarines Sur Gov. LRay Villafuerte in the Partido area. Hence, some of those opposed to the division of the province declare the proposal is “politically motivated,” that is, it is a ploy to put the Fuentebellas back in power.

On the other hand, there are those who publicly rebutted the above charge (but have not necessarily put forward other valid reasons for the establishment of a new province) and argued that Gov. Villafuerte opposes the secession of Partido because that would entail the loss of important revenues from tourist spots like Caramoan, Sagnay, and Presentacion. This, in fact, may be true: the administration of Gov. Villafuerte is known to have invested heavily on these tourist areas and losing these investments would be certainly unacceptable to the very enterprising governor.

Nonetheless, to admit to this does not necessarily warrant that a new province ought to rise from the Partido area. It only serves to explain why the outgoing governor is adamant in keeping the province intact.

Meanwhile, the argument for the establishment of a new province does indicate that—notwithstanding the possibility that the proposal is indeed “politically motivated”—there is in the Partido District a discernible dissatisfaction with the Provincial Government due to its perceived neglect of the area. Moreover, while the development of tourist attractions in the District is visible notably in Caramoan, this has been widely perceived as not resulting to the town inhabitants’ prosperity, but to that of Gov. Villafuerte. Caramoan islands that were previously freely visited on a whim by both town inhabitants and local tourists, have been cordoned off and guarded for foreigners enticed to pay premium rates in foreign currency. Local residents’ homes in Sitios Pitogo and Hinayonhayonan of Brgy. Pandanan being demolished to make room for more exclusive beach resorts further stoke resentment against the Camarines Sur governor.  

All these but fuel the abovementioned dissatisfaction; and in politics, public perception or the public’s pulse is crucial.

Thus, if we were to squarely consider the reason for dividing the province and erecting a new one at the Partido area, there is cogency in such a proposal. Partido’s development deserves priority and the current provincial leadership has arguably manifested neglect on this matter.  Furthermore, the proposed new province does meet the requirements provided by the Local Government Code of 1991. In other words, to establish a new province in which its neglected areas and peoples would finally be prioritized merits vigorous support.

What constrains our full endorsement of the proposal is the distinct possibility that it would be the Fuentebellas who would be at the helm of this carved-out new province.

For after decades of “Fuentebella patronage” in Partido, we can but ask: what does the District have to show for it? Did the Partido District thrive and develop under this patronage? Will it, as a new province helmed by this clan?

More pointedly, will the creation of a new provincial government under the Fuentebellas prove different from the past in which they held power as congressmen, governor, and mayors?