By Armando Fenequito Jr.
DAVAO CITY -- The Senate has approved the bill changing the name of Compostela Valley province to Davao de Oro on third and final reading on Monday.
Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri (right) and Juan Edgardo Angara
(MANILA BULLETIN)
The bill was sponsored by Senators Juan Miguel F. Zubiri and Senator Sonny Angara who referred the bill to the plenary in connection with the House Bill of Compostela Valley representative Maricar Zamora.
Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, in a statement, said he and the people of the province 'are overwhelmed with the fast passage of this bill.'
"Now that both houses of Congress already approved the bill, we will wait for President Rodrigo Duterte to sign it," he said.
With the approval, Uy urged all the people in the province to support the plebiscite in changing their name to Davao de Oro next year.
"The plebiscite will happen next year after the 2019 mid-term election," he said.
The governor said the Senate bill on the province name change is now scheduled for third reading on December 14.
"I pray that all will say yes to a new name and to a new direction," he said.
He said there is a need to change its name so that there will be 'One Davao Region and Davao de Oro will also serve as showcase for the province since it is rich with gold.
Uy also said the present province name is confusing for people outside the region because it is always being associated with Cagayan Valley and Compostela town in Cebu.
He said the province already achieved greatness in being the second richest province in the Philippines in the recent report of the Commission on Audit, despite the confusion brought about by its present name.
Uy said there is a better advantage for the people of his province if they will share the One Davao name as investments will start to pour in.
He said that in 1998, Republic Act No. 8470 or the creation of Compostela Valley was enacted separating it from Davao del Norte.