Visayan bloc reg’l party eyed
BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
July 23, 2019
MANILA – Six years after it was formed in 2013, the Visayan bloc, with former Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez among the lead convenors, is now being studied for transformation into a regional political party.
The Visayan bloc, which has a multi-party membership, is now composed of 44 solons from the Visayas, with Antique Rep. Loren Legarda added to the list.
Benitez said it is now being studied, and the political alignment and commitment of members are “very deep”.
“We can probably formalize it politically, by establishing a political party, which is now being studied”, he said.
Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte also formed the Hugpong Pagbabago regional party in Mindanao.
In 2013, the Visayan bloc was formed mainly to promote and develop tourism in Visayas.
Benitez, who is now the chairman emeritus of Visayan bloc, also organized earlier the One Visayas, with memberships now including governors and mayors of Visayas. It focuses on the economic and development of the Visayas region.
As an investment consultant of the provincial government of Negros Occidental, Benitez said they are now studying the past programs and projects of the province, as far as economic development is concerned, on “where are we and what has been done”.
Then we will formulate where we are heading, Benitez said, stressing also the need to establish a base line.*