PGMA Adviser Visits Pagadian

 After 16 years of waiting for the full implementation of the Regional Transfer from Zamboanga City to Pagadian, the seat of government for Western Mindanao came into a new light when Presidential Adviser on New Government Centers, Secretary Silvestre “Bebot" Bello III paid a visit thru the effort of Congressman Tony Cerilles of the 2nd District of Zamboanga del Sur  here yesterday, August 1, 2007, together with his economic and technical man Under Secretary Danny Encenas, to talk with the 26 Mayors of the province and Mayor Samuel S. Co of Pagadian City.

In a press statement, Secretary Bello said that as an adviser, he was delegated by the President to come to Pagadian to settle matters and plan out packages to lure the Zamboanga people to really transfer to Pagadian this time without hesitation.

“I was instructed by the President to visit Pagadian to settle things and make plans on how to package the full implementation of the transfer of the seat of government from Zamboanga to this city, not for any political reason or color but to implement the law” Sec Bello said.

Secretary Bello will leave today but he will let his technical man to sit down with the local government unit of Pagadian to make plans and strategies to entice the Zamboanga people to transfer.

 

 

“We will assure the people of Pagadian that the undeniable desire of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for an immediate transfer is what we are her for,” USec. Encenas explains.

As a new government center, Pagadian will become a growth center in Western Mindanao. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on New Government Centers will plan packages along the lines of Pagadian becoming a growth center with economic stability, good flow of monetary indicators, peace and order, infrastructure and human aspect.

If we may recall, after a long wait from 1989, the Aquino Government implemented Executive Order (E.O.) 429, or the transfer of the seat of government from Zamboanga City to Pagadian. It met opposition from the people of Zamboanga who will be impacted by the transfer. Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat is reportedly trying to move heaven and earth just to have the support of Manila and other Secretaries against the transfer. Sources said that even the Western Mindanao State University had filed their opposition to the transfer through a resolution.

Last update : 22-09-2007 15:00