LUCENA CITY, Philippines--With the start of the official campaign period for the plebiscite on Dec. 13, advocates for the division of Quezon province headed by provincial Catholic Church leaders have started a series of forums and rallies to drumbeat support for its ratification.

Lucena Diocese Bishop Emilio Marquez, in his homily at the Saint Ferdinand Cathedral Sunday, urged churchgoers to vote "Yes" in the plebiscite not out of pity for the poor residents of the 3rd and 4th districts but out of respect for the rights of people to chart their own path towards progress and development.

"The people of the 1st and 2nd districts should just let them go. Just like an understanding mother to her child, she should allow her children to stand on their own feet and chart their own fate for their own good. We should all understand them," Marquez said.

Catholic Bishop Buenaventura Famadico, head of Gumaca Diocese that administers the affairs of the Catholic Church in the province’s 4th district and most towns in the 3rd districts that would compose the proposed Quezon del Sur province, issued a pastoral letter calling for support for the adoption of Republic Act 9495 in the coming plebiscite.

Buenaventura argued that the creation of Quezon del Sur would lead to effective management of the two Quezon provinces because of smaller territories to take care of. He said the people in the 3rd and 4th districts would greatly benefit with the establishment of a nearby provincial capitol and therefore, faster delivery of government services.

He maintained that the new province would be more effective in soliciting support and assistance from the national government and other funding agencies for development projects and programs.

"Let us all work for the betterment of our families and those of the succeeding generations. Let us all vote yes," Famadico said in the pastoral letter.

On Saturday morning, close to 1,000 students, parish leaders and members of religious organizations, gathered in the Sentro Pastoral auditorium in Lucena City and listened to the explanation of leaders of pro-split advocates -- former Senator Wigberto Tañada, Representatives Danilo Suarez (3rd District) and Marquez -- on the merits of RA 9495.

The former senator said the bills that created RA 9495 had long been deliberated until its passage in the legislative mill.

"This was not created and passed overnight. Several public hearings and consultations had already been made," he told the crowd.

A few hours later, the group of Marquez, Tañada and Suarez trooped to nearby Queen Margarette Hotel and Restaurant and also spoke before the jampacked assembly of provincial board members, Quezon town mayors, councilors and village officials and representatives from multi-sectoral groups. Lucena Mayor Ramon Talaga Jr. also declared his support for RA 9495.

Suarez explained that the new provincial government would not spend a single centavo in the construction of new government buildings.

"We will have new provincial capitol building. The different national agencies will also have their own but we will not spend a centavo for all of those. The national government will provide the new province with fresh funds to start with. We will start clean," he said.

The lawmaker, a close ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, vowed to use his influence in soliciting funds for the new province.

When a news reporter referred to Tañada during the press conference as "future governor" of Quezon del Sur, the former lawmaker, strongly protested and reminded everybody present not to put shades of "vested political interest" in the creation of the new province.

"The creation of Quezon del Sur is for the benefit of the people of 3rd and 4th districts. This is not for the benefit of any politicians," he stressed.

Later in the day, the group accompanied by several mayors motored to Lucban town and also held another forum and rally attended by close to 500 local residents.

The Commission on Elections has officially scheduled for Dec. 13 the plebiscite to ratify the creation of Quezon del Norte and del Sur.

The poll body urged nongovernment, civic, religious, professional, youth and other sectoral organizations to hold symposia, forums and meetings during the campaign period scheduled from Nov. 19 to Dec. 11 to enlighten the voters on the law halving the province.