Region 8 longs for a senator

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte – Various local leaders and sectors in Leyte and Samar are longing for a Senator that would come from this region, that is, Eastern Visayas, said Samar First District Rep. and Liberal Party Secretary General Mel Senen S.Sarmiento.

Sarmiento, speaking during the recent three-day Regional Convention of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Eastern Visayas Chapter at the People's Center and Library here, said “it is high time for the people of Eastern Visayas to have a senator from the region as the last senator from Samar was in 1952.”

The last member of the Upper House to come from the region was the late Senator Decoroso Rosales who was elected in 1952.

Sarmiento said with no representation in the Senate, Leyte and Samar are left behind in terms of much needed development and infrastructure projects. “Having a senator from here can mean attention given to the region,” he said.

He lamented that some regions have two senators.

Sarmiento said the Liberal Party is endorsing former Energy Secretary and Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla to run as senator under the Liberal Party come next year's elections.

“Petilla is needed in the senate to represent the people of Leyte and Samar,” Rep.Sarmiento said.

The Commission on Elections in Eastern Visayas (Comelec – 8) said the region has 2.4 million voters with Leyte – with five congressional districts–having the highest number of voters.