RDC head eyes solution to Palawan transfer issues

On reports that some officials of Palawan are opposed to their transfer to Region VI, Antique Governor and Regional Development Council (RDC VI) Chair Sally Z. Perez expressed optimism that there will be a solution to this concern.

          “This is some kind of their internal problem, but I will leave that to the judgment of their leaders like Governor Joel Reyes, Congressman Abraham Mitra and Congressman Antonio Alvarez,” Governor Perez said in an interview with the PIA during the l6th Regional Nutrition Congress held August 2 at Grand Hotel, here.

“Let us find out first,” Perez said, “but talking with Governor Reyes and other leaders of Palawan like Cong. Mitra, they welcome the Malacañang executive order placing them under the administrative jurisdiction of Western Visayas, because for them it is like coming back as Palawan was once part of  Western Visayas”.

Executive Order 429 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last May 23, 2005 transfers the Province of Palawan and Puerto Princesa City from Region IV to Region VI. The EO said that there is an urgent need to reorganize Region VI to include Palawan and Puerto Princesa City to guarantee the effective delivery of field and public services of government agencies and accelerate social and economic development.

According to Governor Perez  “ as far as the top leaders of Palawan are concerned, they look forward to their coming back to Region VI.  They have more affinity with the Visayans than with the Tagalogs”.

Governor Perez said that in the next RDC Meeting set August l8 in Bacolod City, they have invited Palawan Governor Reyes, Cong. Mitra, Cong. Alvarez and Mayor Edward Hagedorn, and they have signified their attendance to the said meeting.

The problem on transportation link between Palawan and  Iloilo City has been given attention already and just recently, the Development Administration Committee of the RDC passed a Resolution urging airline companies and shipping lines to establish the transportation route.

“ We hope that on August l8, there will be positive results on this concern as we will be discussing more regional develo pment efforts aimed at inducing economic growth along the desired national objectives,”  Governor Perez said.(PIA/T.Villavert)