Gibo pushes ecotourism sustainability in Cebu

CEBU CITY—The two-day campaign offensive of Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gibo Teodoro saw him not only humbled by the Cebuanos’ tremendous supportfor his candidacy but also made him better appreciate the province’s ecotourism spots that could all be turned into one big hide-away paradise.

The former defense secretary flew by chopper to Camotes Island and Bantayan Island to campaign during his two-day sorties, which had drew over 100,000 Cebuanos combined to his rallies, and was enthrall by the amazing natural beauty of these places.

“Napapakagandang (marine) reserves, pinapasukan na ng domestic tourism,kaya kelangan ipreserve sila. Maswerte sila may fresh water na areasila. (These are very beautiful marine reserves that have already been drawing indomestic tourists, so there’s a need to preserve them. They are lucky tohave fresh water areas),” said Gibo, also a licensed pilot.

“The last time that I visited these areas was a long time ago,” he said in achance interview in Argao.“Ang importante doon, meron ng plano yan sa fifth district kung papaano ang sustainable development nila. (The important thing there is that the fifthdistrict has already a plan for their sustainable development),” Gibo said.

Once elected President, Gibo said he would help these two remote butbeautiful places through the implementation of road projects and theimprovement of their ports.Particularly for Camotes, Gibo said its future lies in sustainable tourismbecause its marine sanctuaries there are so beautiful.

Resort owners planning to develop beach fronts there should abide strictly by local and national laws to protect the environment, the Harvard-trained lawyer and 1989 bar topnotcher said.

Gibo visited the islands of Camotes and Bantayan with Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia,who had been showing her sun burnt skin in rallies as proof that she has been campaigning hard for the former defense secretary.Garcia noted that everywhere they went, the crowd reception was overwhelming, with at least 20,000 people attending in Bantayan Island.

In all, Gibo’s two-day Cebu offensive attracted over 100,000 people combined in separate rallies, capped Wednesday night by the attendance of more than 30,000 people in Mandaue City who braved rainfall to listen to him talkabout the road to change and a better Philippines.

The governor, her brother Rep. Pablo John Garcia and their father, DeputySpeaker Pablo Garcia, led the mammoth crowds in an overwhelming show of support in these rallies for the former defense secretary, thereby bolstering the Garcias’ claim that this vote-rich province is “Gibocountry.”

The governor and congressman are the respective founder-president and secretary-general of One Cebu, the local political party founded in 2004 that has, since then, emerged as the most dominant power bloc in the over400-year history of the province.

In a fiery speech kindled by the Cebuanos’ massive show of support, Gibo urged those who want real change across the country to show their might byrallying behind him if they want a better Philippines.

“The Cebu spirit must spread in the next 10 days sa buong Pilipinas. At sabihin natin sa Filipino na sawa na sa systema, nag-umpisa kami dito,gayahin nyo na kasi gusto natin magandang future para sa ating mga anak.Ayaw na natin na kawawa ang Pilipino, sawa na tayo sa mga arogante sapolitika. Ang tao dapat ang manguna!* (The Cebu spirit must spread in thenext 10 days across the whole Philippines. And let us tell our fellowFilipinos who are tired of the system that we have started here, so take thecue from us because we want a better future for our children. We no longerwant the Filipino to be pitiful, we are fed up with arrogant politicians.The people must take the lead!),” said Gibo, with the crowd erupting indeafening cheers.

Amid his highly-charge speech that was interrupted many times by wild applauses and chants of “Gibo! Gibo!,” the Harvard-trained lawyer and 1989 bar topnotcher remained firm in calling for reconciliation and unity so thecountry could finally move forward to greater glory.

Cebuanos from all walks of life brushed elbows with each other, filling the grounds of the Cebu International Convention Center that literally turned into a sea of green—Gibo’s campaign color.

Rep. Garcia told reporters in a chance interview in Toledo City last Tuesday that his family and One Cebu are campaigning hard for Gibo in a bid to deliver their targeted 60 percent of Cebu’s 1.8 million votes—roughly one million votes—to the presidential aspirant. -30-