Sugbuak
Encyclopedia
The term Sugbuak refers to the failed controversial splitting of the island province
of Cebu
in the Philippines
into four independent provinces before the 2007 general election
. The proposal had been a polarizing issue in provincial politics, pitting the camp of Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia
, Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña
and Cebu City representative Antonio Cuenco
, the main proponents against the Sugbuak, against that of the proponents of the Sugbuak, Representatives Antonio Yapha, Jr., Clavel Asas-Martinez and Simeon Kintanar, all of whom were in the last terms of office in Congress at the time.
The term Sugbuak is a portmanteau of the Cebuano
words Sugbo (Cebu) and buak (split or break) and roughly translates to "the splitting of Cebu" or "Broken Cebu". The term Sugbuhi, on the other hand, is a portmanteau of Sugbo and buhi (giving life), roughly translating into "the giving of life to Cebu".
due to strong opposition from the Cebuano electorate.
The Sugbuak in itself, however, began in February 2005, when bills were filed by Representatives Antonio Yapha, Jr., Clavel Asas-Martinez and Simeon Kintanar proposing for a split of the province of Cebu into three provinces: Cebu del Norte, Cebu del Sur and Cebu Occidental. The three new provinces would be constituted out of the fourth, second and third legislative districts of Cebu, held by the three congressmen respectively. The remaining three districts of Cebu, in addition to the two legislative districts of Cebu City, would comprise a fourth province. The three provinces, according to their respective bills, would have their capitals in Bogo
, Argao
and Toledo City
.
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.
, to keep Cebu united, claiming that the motive for the Sugbuak was more political than economic. In an article published by The Manila Times, the provinces would have ended up being converted into the virtual fiefdom
s of the three congressmen had the split been successful, a claim bolstered by the fact that Martinez, Kintanar and Yapha were all on their last terms as representatives of their respective legislative districts. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan
of Cebu passed a resolution supporting the Sugbuak with a vote of 8-7; however, Garcia vetoed the resolution.
Garcia's calls for a united Cebu have 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 all 138 parishes under its jurisdiction to gauge the level of support for the Sugbuak. 71 parishes, including the parish churches of Argao and Toledo City, had generated results opposing the division of Cebu, confirming the belief of Cardinal Archbishop Ricardo Vidal that the majority of Cebuanos would oppose the Sugbuak.
Provinces of the Philippines
The Provinces of the Philippines are the primary political and administrative divisions of the Philippines. There are 80 provinces at present, further subdivided into component cities and municipalities. The National Capital Region, as well as independent cities, are autonomous from any provincial...
of Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
into four independent provinces before the 2007 general election
Philippine general election, 2007
Legislative and local elections were held in the Philippines on May 14, 2007. Positions contested included half the seats in the Senate, which are elected for six-year terms, and all the seats in the House of Representatives, who were elected for three-year terms...
. The proposal had been a polarizing issue in provincial politics, pitting the camp of Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia
Gwendolyn Garcia
Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia , commonly known as Gwen, is the Governor of the Philippine province of Cebu. She was first elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2007. She is Cebu's first woman governor...
, Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña
Tomas Osmeña
Tomas "Tommy" de la Rama Osmeña is a Filipino politician currently serving as Congressman for the second district of Cebu City. Prior to his congressional term, he has also served as mayor of Cebu City from 1988 to 1995 and from 2001 to 2010.-Early life:Tomas is the son of the late Senator Sergio...
and Cebu City representative Antonio Cuenco
Antonio Cuenco
Antonio "Tony" Veloso Cuenco is the Secretary-General of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly since February 4, 2010. Cuenco formerly was the representative of the second district of Cebu City...
, the main proponents against the Sugbuak, against that of the proponents of the Sugbuak, Representatives Antonio Yapha, Jr., Clavel Asas-Martinez and Simeon Kintanar, all of whom were in the last terms of office in Congress at the time.
The term Sugbuak is a portmanteau of the Cebuano
Cebuano language
Cebuano, referred to by most of its speakers as Bisaya , is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines by about 20 million people mostly in the Central Visayas. It is the most widely spoken of the languages within the so-named Bisayan subgroup and is closely related to other Filipino...
words Sugbo (Cebu) and buak (split or break) and roughly translates to "the splitting of Cebu" or "Broken Cebu". The term Sugbuhi, on the other hand, is a portmanteau of Sugbo and buhi (giving life), roughly translating into "the giving of life to Cebu".
Beginnings
The idea of a Cebu split can trace its history back to 1967, when a proposal to split one Cebu congressional district into a new province failed. The candidates who ran for the province's governorship in support of the split were defeated in that year's general electionPhilippine general election, 1967
A senatorial election were held on November 14, 1967 in the Philippines. The 1967 election for the members of the Philippine Senate were also known as the 1967 midterm election, as the date where the elected candidates take office falls half-way through President Ferdinand Marcos' four-year term...
due to strong opposition from the Cebuano electorate.
The Sugbuak in itself, however, began in February 2005, when bills were filed by Representatives Antonio Yapha, Jr., Clavel Asas-Martinez and Simeon Kintanar proposing for a split of the province of Cebu into three provinces: Cebu del Norte, Cebu del Sur and Cebu Occidental. The three new provinces would be constituted out of the fourth, second and third legislative districts of Cebu, held by the three congressmen respectively. The remaining three districts of Cebu, in addition to the two legislative districts of Cebu City, would comprise a fourth province. The three provinces, according to their respective bills, would have their capitals in Bogo
Bogo, Cebu
Bogo is a city in the northern part of the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 69,123 people.-Barangays:Bogo is politically subdivided into 29 barangays:* Anonang Norte - Hon. Josefina Balais...
, Argao
Argao, Cebu
Argao is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 62,226 people.-Location:...
and Toledo City
Toledo City
Toledo City, formerly known as Pueblo Hinulawan, is a 2nd class city in the province of Cebu, Philippines. Population as of 2007 census: 152,960....
.
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
Internal Revenue Allotment
-Definition:According to Section 284 of the Local Government Code of the Philippines , Internal Revenue Allotment is a local government’s share of revenues from the...
, 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, led by Governor Gwendolyn GarciaGwendolyn Garcia
Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia , commonly known as Gwen, is the Governor of the Philippine province of Cebu. She was first elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2007. She is Cebu's first woman governor...
, to keep Cebu united, claiming that the motive for the Sugbuak was more political than economic. In an article published by The Manila Times, the provinces would have ended up being converted into the virtual fiefdom
Fiefdom
A fee was the central element of feudalism and consisted of heritable lands granted under one of several varieties of feudal tenure by an overlord to a vassal who held it in fealty in return for a form of feudal allegiance and service, usually given by the...
s of the three congressmen had the split been successful, a claim bolstered by the fact that Martinez, Kintanar and Yapha were all on their last terms as representatives of their respective legislative districts. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan
Sangguniang Panlalawigan
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is the legislature of all provinces in the Philippines. It passes ordinances and resolutions for the effective administration of the province...
of Cebu passed a resolution supporting the Sugbuak with a vote of 8-7; however, Garcia vetoed the resolution.
Garcia's calls for a united Cebu have met with strong support from local governments, business interests, civil society groups and even the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. In August 2005, the Archdiocese of Cebu
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cebu
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cebu is one of the ecclesiastical provinces of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines that is composed of the entire civil province of Cebu...
conducted a survey in all 138 parishes under its jurisdiction to gauge the level of support for the Sugbuak. 71 parishes, including the parish churches of Argao and Toledo City, had generated results opposing the division of Cebu, confirming the belief of Cardinal Archbishop Ricardo Vidal that the majority of Cebuanos would oppose the Sugbuak.