Robredo on 'divided' Palawan: Palaweños should decide for themselves
Published Apr 26, 2019 10:06 pm
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
Amid opposing views, Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday said that the people of Palawan should be ones to decide whether their province will be divided or not.
Vice President Leni Robredo
(OVP / MANILA BULLETIN) “Marami iyong magkakasalungat na pananaw sa bagay na iyan pero iyong desisyon, kailangan tao iyong magdesisyon (There are opposing views on this but I think the final decision should come from the people themselves),” Robredo said in an interview when she visited Palawan to attend the 28th South Luzon Area Business Conference (SOLABC) in Puerto Princesa City. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11259 which divides Palawan into three provinces: the Palawan del Norte, the Palawan Oriental and the Palawan del Sur which shall be the “mother province.” “Iyong sa akin kasi ultimately, iyong mga taga-Palawan iyong magdedecide kaya magkakaroon ng plebesito para, tingin ko, sila naman iyong dapat na tinatanong (Ultimately, the people of Palawan will be the ones to decide that is why there will be a plebiscite, so I think, they should be the ones that should be asked about this),” Robredo said when asked to give an insight on dividing the province. “Iyong point of view ng local government ng provincial government ng Palawan, makes a lot of sense kasi talagang kapag tiningnan natin iyong mapa ng Palawan, sobrang lawak niya talaga na from point to point, mahirap talaga siyang abutin (The point of view of the local government of the provincial government of Palawan makes a lot of sense because if you will look at the map of Palawan, it’s so wide from point to point so it’s really hard to reach),” Robredo explained. While Robredo sees the “wisdom” in dividing the province which has a large distance from one end to the other, she stressed that “ultimately, iyong tao kasi iyong dapat tanungin (the people should be asked).” Asked if she sees any advantage in dividing the province, Robredo said that areas that need improvement will be given more attention. “Iyong advantage kasi noon mas lalong matututukan kasi kapag masyadong malaki iyong area, parang spreading yourself too thinly (The advantage is there will be more focus on a certain area because if the area is too big, it’s like spreading yourself too thinly),” she explained. She noted that those who are located in far-flung areas will have lesser access to government programs. “So iyong wisdom talaga ng paghati, iyong mas greater attention saka focus iyong mabibigay (The wisdom behind dividing it is to give greater attention to the areas that need help),” she added. However, Robredo also acknowledges other concerns and implications – particularly in security given that Palawan is considered a “gateway” to the Philippines. “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 siya ng maayos (I think, all of these issues will need to be debated upon before the plebiscite so the people will have the chance to see all sides of the coin and will help them to come up with informed decisions),” she said. Currently, Robredo noted that there are opposing views on the issue. “Pabor ako na tatanungin iyong tao—na ibabalik sa tao iyong pagdesisyon kung willing sila o hindi…Kasi tinitingnan ko din yung opposing views (I am in favor of asking the people – to give them the opportunity to decide if they are willing or not…I am also looking at the opposing views),” she explained. Meanwhile, Robredo expressed hope that this will be resolved after the plebiscite. “Kasi iyon naman iyong pagkakataon ng mga taong ihayag kung ano iyong saloobin nila patungkol doon sa paghahati (This is the time when the people should air their views and concerns on dividing ),” she ended.
Vice President Leni Robredo(OVP / MANILA BULLETIN) “Marami iyong magkakasalungat na pananaw sa bagay na iyan pero iyong desisyon, kailangan tao iyong magdesisyon (There are opposing views on this but I think the final decision should come from the people themselves),” Robredo said in an interview when she visited Palawan to attend the 28th South Luzon Area Business Conference (SOLABC) in Puerto Princesa City. Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11259 which divides Palawan into three provinces: the Palawan del Norte, the Palawan Oriental and the Palawan del Sur which shall be the “mother province.” “Iyong sa akin kasi ultimately, iyong mga taga-Palawan iyong magdedecide kaya magkakaroon ng plebesito para, tingin ko, sila naman iyong dapat na tinatanong (Ultimately, the people of Palawan will be the ones to decide that is why there will be a plebiscite, so I think, they should be the ones that should be asked about this),” Robredo said when asked to give an insight on dividing the province. “Iyong point of view ng local government ng provincial government ng Palawan, makes a lot of sense kasi talagang kapag tiningnan natin iyong mapa ng Palawan, sobrang lawak niya talaga na from point to point, mahirap talaga siyang abutin (The point of view of the local government of the provincial government of Palawan makes a lot of sense because if you will look at the map of Palawan, it’s so wide from point to point so it’s really hard to reach),” Robredo explained. While Robredo sees the “wisdom” in dividing the province which has a large distance from one end to the other, she stressed that “ultimately, iyong tao kasi iyong dapat tanungin (the people should be asked).” Asked if she sees any advantage in dividing the province, Robredo said that areas that need improvement will be given more attention. “Iyong advantage kasi noon mas lalong matututukan kasi kapag masyadong malaki iyong area, parang spreading yourself too thinly (The advantage is there will be more focus on a certain area because if the area is too big, it’s like spreading yourself too thinly),” she explained. She noted that those who are located in far-flung areas will have lesser access to government programs. “So iyong wisdom talaga ng paghati, iyong mas greater attention saka focus iyong mabibigay (The wisdom behind dividing it is to give greater attention to the areas that need help),” she added. However, Robredo also acknowledges other concerns and implications – particularly in security given that Palawan is considered a “gateway” to the Philippines. “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 siya ng maayos (I think, all of these issues will need to be debated upon before the plebiscite so the people will have the chance to see all sides of the coin and will help them to come up with informed decisions),” she said. Currently, Robredo noted that there are opposing views on the issue. “Pabor ako na tatanungin iyong tao—na ibabalik sa tao iyong pagdesisyon kung willing sila o hindi…Kasi tinitingnan ko din yung opposing views (I am in favor of asking the people – to give them the opportunity to decide if they are willing or not…I am also looking at the opposing views),” she explained. Meanwhile, Robredo expressed hope that this will be resolved after the plebiscite. “Kasi iyon naman iyong pagkakataon ng mga taong ihayag kung ano iyong saloobin nila patungkol doon sa paghahati (This is the time when the people should air their views and concerns on dividing ),” she ended.