(Let me give you the banner story of today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)
TACLOBAN CITY - Leaders in the region should unite to achieve development not only within their respective areas but for the entire Eastern Visayas.
This was the appeal made by the chairman of the Regional Development Council (RDC) and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento as he noted that “political intramurals” among politicians in the region was one of the reasons why the region remain economically depressed.
“Our leaders in Eastern Visayas should unite beyond partisan politics and political biases for the general welfare and development of the region. Let us all support the regional development towards development,” Sarmiento said.
The RDC chairman cited his own effort to extend cooperation and support with the effort of Northern Samar Governor Raul Daza, who belongs to the opposition.
“I had just talked with Governor Daza regarding the circumferential road to be completed in his province that the President had mentioned during her State of the Nation Address,” Sarmiento said.
He was referring to the Arteche-Laoang-Lapinig- San Isidro-Lope de Vega road rehabilitation project which was mentioned by the President during her SONA last Monday.
The RDC chairman and Calbayog city mayor said that with the completion of this circumferential road it would create economic activities that would redound to the benefits of the people living on those areas. Sarmiento said that Eastern Visayas has all the potentials to become one of the country’s top regions, especially in drawing tourists. But because of differences among leaders in the different parts of the region, the potential of the region remain unfulfilled.
He said that these political bickerings among leaders have placed him on past occasions in an awkward situation as he does not know whom to approach.
“But now, we are working as a team,” Sarmiento said.
But he could not hide his envy with the leaders in Central and even in Western Visayas who are all working together for the development of their respective region.
“We should act like Bohol, for instance, whose leaders are working together with a single master plan,” Sarmiento said.
“Actually, I don’t really mind if our leaders in the region would work for the development for their respective areas. But if it concerns with the region, I personally think that all of us must work together,” he said.
Sarmiento mentioned that he is personally making some efforts on the rehabilitation of the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport based on this city, saying that if the region’s premier airport would be rehabilitated, it could mean more flights using bigger commercial planes.
“Let’s face it, Tacloban is the gateway of the region. That is why, I am personally making some follow up on the rehabilitation work of its airport,” the RDC chairman said.
It was learned from him that more than P600 million has been initially earmarked by the national government through the Department of Transportations and Communications for the purpose of DZR rehabilitation. (By JOEY A. GABIETA)
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