Tacloban City: The HUC Issue
As the plebiscite day goes nearer, more and more questions arise from the minds of the Taclobanons about the present move of the city government to reclassify Tacloban from a component city to a highly urbanized city. As citizens of a democratic country we have our rights to express our opinions and feed backs to publicity on a certain matter affecting our society, may it be positive or cynical. Based on my observation, the HUC case of Tacloban caused word war among political figures all over the region and divided the Taclobanons into two those who are in the Yes side and No Side. Taclobanons should decide as early as now whether they will say YES or say No to HUC.
Generally, our beloved city, Tacloban, surpassed the basic requirements for HUC so our city is already eligible to apply for STATUS reclassification. After the President declared Tacloban as a highly urbanized city the city prepared on the massive information drive all through-out the city and campaign for the YES camp. But in the other camp, political figures that will surely be affected once Tacloban will be a fully-pledged highly urbanized city introduced the so-called “nightmares of being an HUC” to those people who knows a little about the issue that could forever change the future of Tacloban. In this situation the tendency is that the people will think negative feed backs about this move of the city government. The so called “nightmares of HUC” are all false! I tell you why.
Other people may take the words HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY too literally. They would think that once our city will be reclassified as an HUC it would cause chaotic problems to our city folks like pollution, population increase, traffic congestion, relocation of squatters, demolition, skyscrapers, and everything that an eyesore metropolis has. I would like to remind the people and specially those people who chatters to much about the false effects of HUC that this being a highly urbanized city is merely a change in status from a component city to a highly urbanized city. Tacloban City is a 55 years old component city of Leyte Province and been a HIGHLY URBANIZED city through out the years.
Let’s face it, Tacloban is a growing city and a soon-to-be metropolis of eastern Philippines. We need a proper urban planning as early as know where there are still no high rising skyscrapers, no fly overs, congested roads, snarling traffic, etc and HUC is needed! Lets not compare Tacloban to other highly urbanized cities like Cebu, Iloilo, CDeO, Baguio, Manila, Makati because obviously they are more developed compared to us. Look at the case of Puerto Princessa City in Palawan, it is an HUC but compared to Tacloban we have more urban areas compared to Puerto Princessa but after their application for HUC their exposure was recognized and they were even awarded as the cleanest and the greenest city then why can’t Tacloban do? We are the regional capital of Eastern Visayas, one of the promising regions in the country. Regional Capitals are considered to be growth centers of the Philippines and we can overcome those so-called “problems”.
Yes having a status of a highly urbanized city wont solve the present problems of our city but it will sure help! The whole region is counting on as Tacloban is considered as the leader of development and progress in Eastern Visayas.
If today won’t be the time, then when would it be?
HUC or not, Tacloban will still be the premier city of Eastern Visayas. Robinsons and Gaisano is building its malls, did they require Tacloban to be an HUC? NO!
APAC is recruiting personnel for its personnel in Palo. Palo is not even a city yet!
The reasons City Hall is pushing for HUC is not about development but for the same selfish reasons of the Romualdez clan. They want to build a Kingdom here. No, no, no! We Taclobanons will not allow this to happen.
Alfred and cristina, please leave us Taclobanons alone and go back to manila!
^^ @hello, chillax dude. haha. Malls are not the issue here nor APAC, its about the independence of our city from the provincial government because obviously our city is growing and so is the whole province. The provincial government can’t handle 40 towns and 2 cities at once. So that’s the reason why the City Gov’t is pushing for HUC para makabawas sa areas of responsibility ng probinsya. Tacloban is growing and Taclobanons knows what’s best of their city. Marami ang inaasikaso na towns and cities ng probinsya and all of them are progressing. and its not about the Romualdezes, tuyo liwat na gin botos hira han tawo para mamuno han syudad.
For the benefit of Tacloban City which we consider as our BELOVED for all Taclobanons (as they may say)this what I have to say. Its been a quiet long time that Tacloban had been a component City / Primier City / Urbanized City in the region (EV8) and still growing. Also, its been quiet long time that we need some changes for good and for the betterment of all. In here, there’s no Romualdezes, Petillas, or whosoever will known big clans in Tacloban who are building-up thier so-called “kingdom” and we are sick and tired to hear of it. What we need is someone who could lead us to PROSPERITY and not to consider Tacloban as his own kingdom (sic). This issues were never-ending hullaballos/stories way back then. Past is past already, we don’t need those issues to be uplifted again. Come to think of it, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE TACLOBAN THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE? As citizen of Tacloban, born and raised in Tacloban, I had been witness the transformation of it with great development made in infrastructures, facilities (not including adequate drainage / sewerage system facilities all over the City)and new establishments were established. However, poverty, and unemployment is seemingly increasing among the residents of City and as well as in the region. Perhaps, that’s why most of the residents here (that includes myself) prefer to look employment in other cities for hard-earned money because Tacloban does not caters just like other cities could do. Come to think of it! All we need here is CHANGES! What lies in the hands for those Taclobanons who could cast their votes for HUChood of Tacloban is the FUTURE. Everything will changes after this plebiscite. I have been in Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, Makati, Manila, Mandaluyong and even Baguio cities changes of development both in urban planning, infrastructures, and big establishments were fast and more investors (and even Tourists) came just to have some businessess of their own. Especially in Bacolod city (where I worked in an foriegn aided project for four years and consider as my second home after Tacloban), as HUC-city in Negros Occidental province they had transformed a lot and more investors came (local and foriegn) to establish their respective businessess here thus they caters more work oppurtunities among the residents who were thier direct employee. Up to now, Bacolod caters more and more work oppurtunities for IT and Call-center related jobs because the likes of APAC fleed to put up their offices. Thus, making Bacolod as the next IT-hub in the Visayas next to CEBU. Come to think of it, IF WE TOO COULD HAVE MORE INVESTORS COME TO OUR CITY (AS WELL AS WELL-EQUIPT INFRASTRUCTURES AND FACILITIES) SO WE COULD HAVE ALLEVIATE UNEMPLOYMENT HERE….Mine is not tossing-up the coins of two parties whom I will favor with, what I want is for you who will cast thier votes to think for CHANGE! BETTERMENT! EMPLOYMENT! and FUTURE! Come to think of it! Hope we can make Tacloban City locate in the geographical map of the Philippines as one of the finest City.
HUC is not a bad thing. Its the proponent pushing for HUC which is suspect. HUC is not merely a title bestowed on a city. There are legal implictaions which will directly affect every Taclobanon.
For instance, city ordinances will no longer be subject to provincial scrutiny once Tacloban is declared an HUC. Why is the Mayor pushing so hard for HUC?
Do you know that the city government just pushed for the payment of a lot worth P27M, but which the city already owned? Without the veto of the province, this scandalous deal would have pushed thru!
Do you know that the city government enacted an ordinance raising business taxes in the year 2000 by 600%? Were it not for the intercession of the Provincial board, you and I would already be paying these high taxes?
Do you know that the city gov has already spend P30M in its bid for HUC? And in so doing, took out the funds worth 1.7 M from the budget of the city hospital, money which should have been spent for the health needs of the poor?
These are the main reasons why our mayor is pushing for HUC. Its independence for himself.
esep! esep! cheers!!
^^ hello, @ hello. “esep esep” din. Why do you think nakontra it probinsya maging HUC it Tacloban? You know what pansin ko. Makarit kumontra it probinsya knowing na they did a little for TACLOBAN. Are you sure about that 600% increase of taxes? Ba daw gin papasubrahan nira it isturya. Also, nangain man ito na almost 1 billion pesos na para dapat ha syudad? they only spent 100 million for Tacloban. Gin kain man ito han probinsya? And its independence for all of the TACLOBANONS. diri la hiya. Bis hin-o, bisan ikaw maging mayor hit sytudad and already HUC mabanefit ka man gihap diba? ESEP ESEP!
Hi Mars! I know you love Tacloban so much the reason why you have been “actively” campaigning for a YES to the HUC issue.
I have always maintained that being an HUC was unstoppable. Let me clarify: whether or not Tacloban is an HUC is beside the point: one cannot STOP progress. Whether we are a barrio, a town, or a simple city, progress is bound to happen in due time. Now, being an HUC would probably accelerate the process (due to the increased IRA, etc.) but that remains to be seen.
Anyway, my initial position was: Of course, let’s change the status to one of being an HUC! Remember, the process has been legislated for an ordinary city to become an HUC , meaning, they would not have made that into law if it was a wrong move in the first place, right? So, WHAT is the problem? What is the fuzz all about? In fact, many ask: Who cares?!!!
Now setting aside all the arguments presented above, I hope you would consider a simple question: Before going anywhere, why is the City government so intense in its campaign?
The answer: It redounds to politics. Don’t get me wrong, I am apolitical as most people know. Now, why is the city administration obscenely campaigning for a YES? Does it not make you wonder WHY?
Any responsible, civic-minded, intelligent denizen should now begin wondering: why is the city administration campaigning SO hard? As if it was a matter of life or death, going to such extent as spending MILLIONS of pesos (yes, Mars, millions of taxpayers money) into the campaign (they brought hundreds of City Hall employees, Brgy Captains, et al to Puerto Princesa, Palawan where Brgy Captains were given P10K each, I heard), spending for huge tarpaulin billboards, radio plugs, interpersonal campaigns, etc. – full media exposure, in effect, as part of this campaign (again, taxpayers money).
It begs the question: WHY? Why are they doing this? And, logically, WHAT is the hidden agenda?
Doesn’t it make you wonder?
i have questions why would the province campaign so hard for a NO. what is their hidden agenda? does it have something to do with budgets that will never be on their hands in the future?
whatever agenda the Romualdez clan has for this campaign. i know we have something in common. WE BOTH LOVE TACLOBAN.
to mr gerryruiz, not all the you hear is true. gossip is gossip, you know.
think of what is the best not only for our beloved city but for its humble occupants as well. we really cannot please everyone. yet, pleasing is not the mere issue here. we must think of what is the advantages and disadvantages. kung anu ang mas matimbang, iyon ang dapat na magwagi! anyway, mayor alfred is not pursuing ds for his own selfish motives. he’s doing this for everyone. waraynons are vigilant people.
…Yes to HUC! I love Tacloban and I really want to see Tacloban grow and progress! Why would we hinder our mother in prospering? Being an HUC will open a lot of opportunities not only to the Taclobanons but to everyone in the region! Say YES to HUC!
Oh come on, What’s so special about HUC? Why set a plebicite so early and not wait for 2010? Is the hidden motive of the chief proponent of this HUC hood so obvious? The Romualdezes thought that Taclobanons are still on pre-Marcos era. They think that we Taclobanons will open our mouths to eat whatever they want us to eat. Please consider this: With HUC, the province can not intervene whatever ordinances the Sangguniang Panlunsod will propose and sign. Only three of the City Councilors are in the Opposition; others are Alfred’s puppies. Therefore, with HUC, the power of the Mayor will become humongous and overwhelming. Whatever city ordinance they’ll pass, it would surely in favor of the mayor and anti-masses, not pro-people etc. Corruption will again becomes rampant. Just thin about it. With HUC, taxes will definitely and inevitably rise and will domino effect to the province people who would buy or do business inside Tacloban. Just write NO (NO to HUC) on Dec.18. plebicite.
buwas na an aton gn huhulat mga taclobanon..ayaw kamo pag toud h2 nga self porpuses ni roumaldez kay d e2 tuod.. maaram namn kta nga tanan nga riko i2 hra.. pra ano pa?8 ira la..mggng sikat kta.. makilala ha bugos nga pilipinas.. maski pa daw ha bugos nga kalibutan.. d e2 impusible.. sanglit..butos kta hn YES!!! ht ndre.. ayaw. d kmi namimirit.. mg lilipay ghap kmo h2 pag HUC ht tacloban.
HUC can wait there are still many things to do before HUC, YES, malls did not recquire HUC but it’s not all about malls it’s all about the population and income that Tacloban receives, Tacloban has reached more than the minimum recquirements of HUC which is more income and population. Some people thinks that it’s time for TAcloban to progress annd to iprove becausi of it’s population but might we consider on what will happen to palarong pambansa which will be hel in Tacloban and for the NO, HUC can wait and it could happen on 2010 and for the meanwhile Tacloban has lots of things more to do than to progress it on advance. The advantage on this HUC is that it will progress faster bringing people to fit on the population and income but this will recquire taxes to increase and Tacloban will no longer be part of Leyte but instead it will be independent bringing the governor not ot worry about Tacloban anymore. Do you think Taclobanons are progressed? For me they are not and not like other HUCities they have more progressed people.
thanks for the info dude. yana la ak nakabaro about han plebiscite. i really never heard of it ’cause the last time i went home was in september. for me, it’s a YES