“Iyong mga taga-Palawan iyong magdedecide,” Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo said on the issue regarding the division of Palawan in an interview during the 28th South Luzon Area Business Conference (SOLABC) last April 26 in Legend Hotel, Puerto Princesa City.
The Vice President is neutral regarding the issue on the Republic Act No. 11259 or the Act Dividing Palawan into Three Provinces. Instead, she supports giving the Palaweños the chance to decide whether to approve or not.
“Iyong pabor ako, na tatanungin iyong tao. Pabor ako na iyong tao-na ibabalik sa tao iyong pagdedesisyon kung willing sila o hindi,” Robredo said.
Robredo encourages having a debate or in-depth discussion regarding the issue before the plebiscite to address and hear out the supporting and opposing views.
“So tingin ko, iyong lahat na issues na iyon, kailangan pag-debatehan bago ng plebesito para iyong tao, nagkakaroon siya ng pagkakataon makita iyong, parang all sides of the coin, para nakakapag-desisyon ng maayos,” said Robredo.
The plebiscite for the law is set on the second Monday of May 2020.
The new composition of provinces will be Palawan del Norte to be composed of the towns of Coron, Culion, Busuanga, Linapacan, and El Nido with Taytay as its capital. Palawan Oriental will be composed of Araceli, Dumaran, Cuyo, Agutaya, Magsaysay, Cagayancillo and San Vicente with Roxas as the capital. On the other hand, the Palawan del Sur will be composed of Aborlan, Narra, Quezon, Rizal, Española, Bataraza, Balabac and Kalayaan with Brookes Point as its capital.
Robredo also discussed the advantages of splitting into three provinces.
“Iyong advantage kasi, mas lalong matutukan. Kasi kapag masyadong malaki iyong area, parang spreading yourself too thinly,” she said.
“Mas mahirap kasi iyong access sa government programs, mas mahirap dahil sa presence ng maraming mga opisyal at saka mga opisina. So iyong wisdom talaga ng paghati, iyong mas greater attention sa focus iyong mabibigay,” Robredo added.
On the other hand, Robredo also discussed the importance of Palawan on the security of the country.
“Marami din iyong implication-sa security, ‘di ba? Sa security ng lugar, hindi lang sa Palawan pero ng buong Pilipinas kasi gateway iyong Palawan” she said.
Robredo also highlighted the program of the Office of the Vice President, the Angat Buhay Program in the municipality of Agutaya uplifting the lives of the locals by providing alternative source of electricity through solar panels and other humanitarian support in the municipality. This was made possible through the collaboration of the government and private sectors.