Barangays push to topple groups opposing Catbalogan cityhood

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
June 10, 2007

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  In much the same way of showing support to re-electionist Mayor Coefredo ‘Tekwa’ Uy, some 54 barangay chairmen out of the 57 have shown their ardent support for Catbalogan Mayor Uy’s passion to turn Catbalogan into a component city.

On June 5, the barangay chairmen of Catbalogan attended a workshop on how they could campaign for the YES vote in the upcoming plebiscite scheduled on June 16, 2007, Saturday.

Ms. Deborah Marco, Cityhood Committee secretariat challenged the group who is set to campaign for the NO vote, that the people’s yearning for Catbalogan’s cityhood that has spanned decades will never be toppled.

Marco added that the group of Calbayog Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento has unleashed some elements to make sure that the lone plebiscite question “DO YOU APPROVE OF THE CONVERSION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CATBALOGAN, PROVINCE OF SAMAR INTO A COMPONENT CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF CATBALOGAN PURSUANT TO RA 8391?” be answered in the negative.

Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento has been very vocal about his opposition citing that Catbalogan just filed an exemption from the income requirement.

Catbalogan LGU does not deny the charge but accuses the mayor of dragging the city council to support his opposition [see related news].

With the few remaining days, Catbalogan barangays have to push harder to vanquish the prospective NO votes. The Advocacy team for cityhood including the Sangguniang Bayan Members and Department heads has clustered some barangays to be easily covered by those who will explain to the common Catbaloganon why a YES vote should win.

Meanwhile, Uy does not begrudge comrade Sarmiento with his rabid opposition of Catbalogan’s cityhood, Uy said he is just sad that Sarmiento does not see the benefits the cityhood of Catbalogan will provide for its inhabitants which may even radiate to nearby Samar towns.