Sugbuak

The Sugbuak refers to the controversial, failed proposed partition of the island province of Cebu in the Philippines into four separate provinces. The issue, which had emerged before the 2007 general election, had been a polarising issue in provincial politics, pitting the anti-partition camp of then Cebu Governor Gwendolyn García, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Cebu City Representative Antonio Cuenco, against that of Sugbuak proponents Representatives Antonio Yapha, Jr., Clavel Asas-Martinez and Simeón Kintanar—all of whom were last-term congressmen at the time.

Map of showing the proposed new provinces within Cebu province as part of the Sugbuak proposal.
  Cebu del Norte/Cebu Boreal
  Cebu Occidental
  Cebu del Sur/Cebu Austral
  the rest of Cebu ("Cebu Oriental")

Etymology

The term Sugbuak is a portmanteau of the Cebuano words Sugbo (the endonym for Cebu) and buak ('split' or 'break') and roughly translates to "the splitting of Cebu" or "Broken Cebu".[1] The more pro-partition term Sugbuhi is conversely a portmanteau of Sugbo and buhi ('life-giving'), roughly translating into "giving life to Cebu".[2]

History

The idea of a divided Cebu can be traced to 1967, when a proposal to split the island's lone congressional district into a new province failed. Gubernatorial candidates in that year's general election who supported the partition were defeated due to strong opposition from the Cebu electorate.[3]

The actual Sugbuak began in February 2005, when Representatives Yapha, Asas-Martínez, and Kintanar filed three bills proposing that the fourth, second and third legislative districts of Cebu (which they held, respectively) be converted into three new provinces named Cebu del Norte/Cebu Boreal, Cebu del Sur/Cebu Austral and Cebu Occidental. The remaining three districts of Cebu, in addition to the two legislative districts of Cebu City, would constitute a fourth province (presumably called Cebu Oriental, although no name for the fourth province was actually proposed). The three provinces, according to their respective bills, would have their capitals in Bogo, Argao and Toledo.[4]

According to the congressmen, the motive for the Sugbuak is to bring the government "closer to the people" and to allow the new provinces to get an increased share in the Internal Revenue Allotment, as well as to hasten the development of the districts, which were said to have been "neglected" by the provincial government.

Opposition

The filing of the bills triggered a massive campaign to keep Cebu united. The campaign led by Governor García claimed that the motive for the Sugbuak was more political than economic. An article published by The Manila Times claimed that the provinces would have become the "virtual fiefdoms" of Asas-Martínez, Kintanar and Yapha after the partition,[1] an idea reinforced by the fact that all three congressmen were in their last terms as representatives of their respective districts. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council) of Cebu passed a resolution supporting the Sugbuak with a vote of 8–7; García, however, vetoed the resolution.

García's call for a united Cebu met with strong support from local governments, business interests, civil society groups and even the Roman Catholic Church. In August 2005, the Archdiocese of Cebu conducted a survey in its 138 parishes to gauge the level of support for the Sugbuak. 71 parishes, including those of proposed capitals Argao and Toledo City, confirmed the belief of Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu, that a majority of Cebuanos opposed the Sugbuak.[5]

References
  1. Roperos, Godofredo M. (2007-05-29). "Governor's win staves off Cebu breakup". The Manila Times. Manila Times Publishing Corporation. Archived from the original on 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  2. Israel, Dale G. (2006-09-13). "Martinez: Splitting Cebu is Sugbuhi, not Sugbuak". Cebu Daily News. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. Archived from the original on 2009-07-27. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  3. Espina, Rene (2006-10-22). "'Sugbuak'". Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  4. Malinao, Jeanette P.; Gerodias, Minerva B.; Villanueva, Lovey L. (2005-08-26). "Bills' flaws may stall Sugbuak". Sun.Star Cebu. Sun.Star Publishing, Inc. Archived from the original on 2006-05-05. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  5. Mosqueda Jr., Mars W. (2005-08-26). "Cebuanos reject Cebu split - Church survey". Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Archived from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
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