Soon-Ruiz: Mandaue should be a lone congressional district

MAKING Mandaue city a lone district like Lapu-Lapu city will be a key agenda of Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, who said she’ll anchor her bid for the 6th district congressional seat on this.

The physician is making her second bid for the post she used to serve.

Soon-Ruiz told Cebu Daily News this goal was never achieved by her rival, reelectionist Rep. Luis Quisumbing even though Mandaue City, being a highly urbanized city, deserves this status.

If Mandaue becomes a lone district, she said, projects from a congressman’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) would not have to be split with municipalities of Cordova and Consolacion.

“It’s time for Mandaue to have its own representative in Congress,” Soon-Ruiz said.

The change will benefit Cordova and Consolacion, she said, but admitted that another town may have to be carved out from other districts to form the new 6th district if her plan succeeds.

Soon-Ruiz was the sixth district representative for five terms in 1992to 1998; and 2001 to 2010.

In 2010 she was defeated in the contest for Mandaue mayor by Mayor Jonas Cortes.

Soon-Ruiz and Quisumbing were partymates in the G arcia-led One Cebu in 2010. Quisumbing left the party this year to join the administration Liberal Party.

“I brought him along with me that time. He can’t even speak Bisaya,” Soon-Ruiz said.

The physician said she had no plans to return to politics after 2010 but decided to run after hearing grievances from people in the 6th district and being invited by One Cebu to run again.

She will file here Certificate of Candidacy (COC) today with other One Cebu bets.

Mayor Cortes surprised many when he hired Soon-Ruiz last July as a consultant for health services. Cortes said she’s allowed to continue her duties at City Hall despite her One Cebu campaign.

Asked if the mayor gave tacit approval of her candidacy, Soon-Ruiz replied: “Secret.”