‘We have to help province to protect Cebu city

REP. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City said yesterday said he’s been helping in the Liberal Party-Cebu’s (LP-Cebu) campaign in the province in order to protect Cebu City’s interests.

“If the province is developed, there would be fewer people coming to Cebu City to avail of our seniors citizens aid and free scholarships. The city is finding it hard (to accommodate those from the towns),” he said in yesterday’s 888 News Forum.

Osmeña said he gives advice to LP gubernatorial candidate Hilario “Junjun” Davide III and 3rd district congressional candidate Geraldine Yapha but “they make their own decisions.”

“As far as I can see, there’s a negative vote for the Garcias. This is the reason Pablo John is distancing himself from his sister, (suspended Cebu Gov.) Gwen (Garcia). She is also keeping a low profile,” he said.

The campaign against the Garcias also extends to the senatorial candidates.

“J.V. Ejercito is my friend but when I heard the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) was supporting Gwen, I shifted my support to the Team PNoy ticket,” he said.

Osmeña said he was prepared to give a portion of the South Road Properties (SRP) and revive a land-swap deal for Capitol-owned lots occupied by urban poor families covered by Cebu provincial government ordinance 93-1.

The SRP lot swap would replenish the province’s wealth that had been lost in the Balili land purchase deal, he said.

But Osmeña said he would only do so if Davide wins.

“The development of the province is very important to the city. It’s critical for the simple reason that we do not want people in the province to come here. The province has to develop,” he said. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac and Deputy Editor Stephen Capillas