Visayas governors show support for Marcos, admin’s vision for progress

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia
MANILA, Philippines — Sixteen governors from various regions in the Visayas on Thursday signed a manifesto expressing support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his vision for national progress.
The signing was done during a unity lunch organized by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia at the Cebu Provincial Capitol.
The event gathered various local leaders from the Visayas region, including mayors, vice mayors, councilors, provincial board members, and representatives from the Provincial Association of Barangay Councils in Cebu.
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“We, the duly elected governors of the Visayas region, representing our respective provinces and the millions of Filipinos who call the Visayas home, stand united in our unwavering support for the administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.,” the signed manifesto read.
Article continues after this advertisement“Recognizing the remarkable progress the Marcos administration has achieved in advancing national development, driving economic recovery, and fostering regional growth, we wholeheartedly affirm our commitment to his leadership and vision for a Bagong Pilipinas,” it also said.
Article continues after this advertisementThose who signed the document were Garcia, Aklan Gov. Jose Enrique Miraflores, Guimaras Gov. JC Rahman Nava, Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Antique Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and Capiz Gov. Fredenil Castro.
Others included Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, Gov. Manuel L. Sagarbarria from Negros Occidental and Oriental, Biliran Gov. Gerard Roger Espina, Siquijor Gov. Jake Vincent Villa along with their fellows from Samar and Leyte Island including Gov. Sharee Ann Tan (Samar), Gov. Edwin Ongchuan (Northern Samar), Gov. Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar) Gov. Jericho Petilla (Leyte) and Gov. Damian Mercado (Southern Leyte).
Garcia, along with other regional leaders, previously pushed for the creation of the “One Visayas bloc” in August 2024.
This initiative aims to provide a unified platform for the 16 provinces in the Visayas, which are part of Regions 6, 7, and 8.
One of its objectives is to address mutual concerns in their provinces and advocate for their shared interests on a national scale.
Marcos received more than 1.5 million votes from the province of Cebu—the highest number of votes cast by any province during the 2022 presidential election, according to the Presidential Communications Office.