BY CARLA P. GOMEZ
Friday, September 21, 2018

“United we are a force to reckon with,” Rep. Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) told officials of the three Visayan regions gathered for the launching of “One Visayas” last night.

In his keynote speech at the gathering of 194 political leaders from Western, Central and Eastern Visayas at the Shangri-La at the Forth in Metro Manila, Benitez presented the “One Visayas: Region of Economic Cooperation and Political Unity.”

The officials present, who included those from Negros Island, also signed a “One Vision, One Voice, One Visayas” pledge of commitment.

In their pledge, the officials said they strongly believe that only through synergy and a collective effort will the Visayas be able to become a globally-competitive economic powerhouse.

They also committed to enhance cooperation and strengthen partnership with the national government and private sector in furtherance of their vision for a progressive Visayas.

The officials also pledged to, at all times, take into utmost consideration in their decision-making “the economic and political benefit of our people in Visayas.”

Benitez said “One Visayas” was formed to ensure the economic progress of the Visayas.

“We have seen theeffect of the Visayan bloc so we would like to extend this to the local executives, from governor down,” he said.

United the three Visayas regions can coordinate efforts for proper economic development and for enticing investments, Benitez added.

“Each of the three regions will create their economic road map and we will link them to possible investors,” he said.

“It’s a one-stop shop for economic development,” Benitez said, citing a collective effort at enhancing infrastructure and communication.

Among the projects being eyed under “One Visayas” is a public, private partnership to provide a digital highway to link theprovinces of the three regions to the 21st century, Benitez said.

Fifty percent of the tourists who come to the Philippine go to the Visayas and we would like to take advantage of that, too, he added.

He said the Negros Occidental representatives at the assembly were Melecio Yap (1st District), Leo Rafael Cueva (2nd District), Alejandro Mirasol (5th District), Mercedes Alvarez (6th District), Greg Gasataya (Bacolod) and Joseph Stephen Paduano (Abang Linkod), and from Negros Oriental – Manuel Sagarbarria (2nd District) and Arnulfo Teves (3rd District).

Only Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) and Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong (Neg. Or., 1st District) were not present.

Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and Vice Governor Mark Garcia and numerous other officials from Negros Island were also present.

Benitez said the Negros Oriental congressmen and Degamo are now looking into forming a unity ticket for 2019 in their province, just like the officials on the Occidental side.*