REMAI ALEJADO
Online news contributor
PAGADIAN CITY: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is really bent on the full transfer of regional offices from Zamboanga City to Pagadian and she has the sincerity to do it because of our presence, this was the assuring words of Sec. Silvestre Bello III in a recent meeting with the local media here.
If only to guarantee the media, provincial and city officials, Bello added that though they cannot give a timetable when it will be realized but he said
they “are working for it to happen soon.”
Bello is the Presidential Adviser on New Government Transfer who came over with Undersec. Danny Encenas.
They were accompanied and billeted by Rep. Tony Cerilles who said that he purposely took a plane via Dipolog from Manila for them to travel by land passing Osmeña-Josefina-Molave to Pagadian City. He wanted them to affirm that Pagadian as regional center is much nearer from Dipolog than Zamboanga City.
Bello is likewise a fraternal brother of Cerilles admitting that whatever “undesirable” outcome of their visit here may cause, they wouldn’t let it happen that Arroyo would to issue another Executive Order for disobedience.
“It’s high time to respect an order,” he emphasized.
Usec. Encenas, on the other hand, said that the regional transfer will start creating Pagadian as a growth zone in Zamboanga Peninsula. “We should believe in this vision,” he challenged,adding: “growth center here is more viable than Zamboanga City.”
Cerilles added he is looking at the social and economic implications of the transfer to Pagadian and Zamboanga del Sur, like for example in terms of employment, investments and an active business atmosphere.
It has been 16 years already since then President Corazon Aquino issued Executive Order No. 429, which designated Pagadian City as regional government center for Region 9.
Provincial Budget Officer Rogelio Montealto suggested addressing the social and economic constraints of the transfer why not fast track the rationalization program and prioritizing Region 9 so as to stop employees from resisting the said order.
Board member and lawyer Baldomero Fernandez likewise recommended if the peace and order is one vital component of the transfer then let the Philippine National Police regional office be transferred here first.
It can be recalled that in 2005, PGMA directed the PNP and AFP Southern Command to transfer to Pagadian City but it did not happen due to the strong opposition of the late Zamboanga City Mayor Clara Lobregat, a very close ally of Arroyo.
Online news contributor
PAGADIAN CITY: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is really bent on the full transfer of regional offices from Zamboanga City to Pagadian and she has the sincerity to do it because of our presence, this was the assuring words of Sec. Silvestre Bello III in a recent meeting with the local media here.
If only to guarantee the media, provincial and city officials, Bello added that though they cannot give a timetable when it will be realized but he said
they “are working for it to happen soon.”Bello is the Presidential Adviser on New Government Transfer who came over with Undersec. Danny Encenas.
They were accompanied and billeted by Rep. Tony Cerilles who said that he purposely took a plane via Dipolog from Manila for them to travel by land passing Osmeña-Josefina-Molave to Pagadian City. He wanted them to affirm that Pagadian as regional center is much nearer from Dipolog than Zamboanga City.
Bello is likewise a fraternal brother of Cerilles admitting that whatever “undesirable” outcome of their visit here may cause, they wouldn’t let it happen that Arroyo would to issue another Executive Order for disobedience.
“It’s high time to respect an order,” he emphasized.
Usec. Encenas, on the other hand, said that the regional transfer will start creating Pagadian as a growth zone in Zamboanga Peninsula. “We should believe in this vision,” he challenged,adding: “growth center here is more viable than Zamboanga City.”
Cerilles added he is looking at the social and economic implications of the transfer to Pagadian and Zamboanga del Sur, like for example in terms of employment, investments and an active business atmosphere.
It has been 16 years already since then President Corazon Aquino issued Executive Order No. 429, which designated Pagadian City as regional government center for Region 9.
Provincial Budget Officer Rogelio Montealto suggested addressing the social and economic constraints of the transfer why not fast track the rationalization program and prioritizing Region 9 so as to stop employees from resisting the said order.
Board member and lawyer Baldomero Fernandez likewise recommended if the peace and order is one vital component of the transfer then let the Philippine National Police regional office be transferred here first.
It can be recalled that in 2005, PGMA directed the PNP and AFP Southern Command to transfer to Pagadian City but it did not happen due to the strong opposition of the late Zamboanga City Mayor Clara Lobregat, a very close ally of Arroyo.