The mayor of Pagadian City has appealed for support among regional leaders in Western Mindanao to the proposed transfer of regional government offices from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City.
“Local governments in Western Mindanao should strive for unity and focus on the welfare of the general public,” said Pagadian City re-elected Mayor Samuel Co.
The transfer of regional government offices to Pagadian was mandated under Memorandum Circular 78 issued by then President Rodrigo Duterte in 2020.
As a result of the creation of the Autonomous Regions in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) which gave rise to the need to reorganize the administrative regions in Mindanao, Pagadian was identified as the regional government center of the Zamboanga peninsula as embodied in Executive Order No. 429 signed in 1990 by the late President Corazon Aquino.
This was backed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Executive Order 352 issued in 2004.
Former President Benigno Simeon Aquino directed a study on the headed by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), and this caused delay of the transfer.
To settle the issue, NEDA Secretary, Ernesto Pernia supported the designation of Pagadian as the government center of Region -9 which increase the accessibility to the public and fostered inclusive growth, resulting in economic vibrancy for the rest of the region.
To put to rest the 30-year tug-of-war between Zamboanga City and Pagadian City, former President Rodrigo Duterte issued Memorandum Circular no. 78 on June 25, 2020, repealing the moratorium and directing the transfer of the remaining regional offices from Zamboanga to Pagadian within two years upon effectivity of his issuance, which ends on June 25, 2022.
“I am appealing to all local leaders in our region, to support the complete transfer of the remaining 10 percent of government offices in Zamboanga City to Pagadian City. Let us expedite the transfer for the sake of the people, for the sake of our constituents. Further delay would only confuse the public and affect the services that we owe to our people,” Co said.
The local executive said almost 90 percent of the regional offices had already transferred to Pagadian with 31 buildings already completed and operational, seven others under construction and 10 ready for bidding.
However, the remaining 10 percent which is largely represented by the regional offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Health (DOH) renewed their appeal to be exempted from the mandated transfer despite their previous request and acceptance of a big portion of a lot donated by the Pagadian city government.
The regional DPWH was given three hectares, with half of it going to the DOH.
The Duterte administration has earmarked P343 million to further develop and to complete the concreting of roads, sidewalks and drainage system in the regional government center.
“Success is within our reach. But we need to unite and work together to ensure the development of our region. For the sake of the people of Western Mindanao, I hope all the remaining regional offices will follow the order of the law,” Co said.