The first reading and referral of measures during the 2nd regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan took extra time last week, as one board member submitted a total of 84 ordinances and resolutions, including one calling for an undersea tunnel to the mainland.
East District topnotcher PBM Edwin T. Tanael’s proposed measures included 36 ordinances on various issues and 22 resolutions congratulating winners in the recent elections in the 11 municipalities.
Standing out from the lot was his resolution strongly proposing the construction of an undersea tunnel, instead of a bridge, to connect the island province to the mainland and requesting the national government to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for the purpose.
It may be recalled that Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza recently announced that he has secured the agreement of Camarines Sur Gov. LRay Villafuerte and Camarines Norte Gov. Ricarte Padilla to jointly endorse the Camarines-Catanduanes Friendship Bridge.
Estimated to cost more than US$500 million, the project involves the construction of a 10.7-kilometer, two lane bridge across Maqueda channel expected to speed up transportation and boost the economy and tourism in the three provinces.
An undersea tunnel over the same distance, however, would cost at least three times more, at about US$1.65 billion based on the lowest cost of US$250 million per mile. It would also require advanced machinery like tunnel boring machines as well as innovative engineering techniques to address risks posed by the underwater environment.
Aside from the Maqueda channel tunnel, Tanael’s proposed ordinances with local implications involve mandating the mass regularization of casual employees with at least 10 years of service to the provincial government; rationalization and right-sizing of the provincial bureaucracy; requiring carwash establishments, gas stations and automotive shops to provide catch basins for wastewater; regulating the use of mobile devices during classes in all public and private elementary and secondary schools; removing the Confidential Fund from the 2026 Annual Budget of the provincial government; and providing for a Comprehensive Code for Students’ Rights and Welfare.
The veteran legislator is also pushing separate measures prescribing guidelines for caroling during Christmas and regulating solicitations on birthdays, anniversaries, fiestas, tournaments and other personal activities, “except for donations for health, wellbeing and end-of-life support.”
Six others would declare Caramoran as the “Lasa Capital”, San Miguel as the “Adventure Capital”, Pandan as the “Fishing Capital”, and Panganiban as the “Kinis Capital” of the province.
Two others would rename the “Boto ni Kurakog” attraction in Bagamanoc as the “Smallest Romantic Island of Catanduanes” and declare the late Efren “ETASOR” Sorra as the “Father of Indigenous Theater Arts and Literature” in the province.
Tanael would do away with “Sulong Catandungan” as the official motto of the province and adopt “God Bless Catanduanes” instead through an ordinance.
Proposed to be created are the Provincial Abaca Research Center (PARC) for the development, production and promotion of value-added products, and the Abacaleros Foundation, Inc., a private non-stock, non-profit organization to manage the Abaca Festival.
In keeping with his message during the recent festival, he filed a resolution requesting the Commission on Audit to conduct a special audit of the funds utilized in the 9th Abaca Festival to determine whether there were “irregular, unnecessary, extravagant or unconscionable expenses.”
On the power woes being experienced by the Catanduanes grid, the PBM is urging the Committee on Energy to probe the alleged P538 million obligation of the National Power Corporation to Sunwest Water & Electricity Co., the Napocor to immediately provide emergency power augmentation in view of the intermittent brownouts, and the finance committee of the province to conduct a study on the possibility of the PLGU becoming an Independent Power Producer, redeeming ownership of the Balongbong Mini-Hydro Power Plant, and developing renewable energy sources.
He is also calling on the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to conduct an immediate review and regulatory action on the exorbitant airfares of Cebu Pacific Airways on the Manila-Virac-Manila route.
The same measure urges the government to encourage other flight operators to serve the route and to reintroduce the Legazpi-Virac route to enhance accessibility and economic opportunities on the island.
The PBM’s measures include 22 resolutions congratulating the winners of mayoral and vice mayoral polls for their victory and seeking their support for development programs of the province.
He likewise introduced several resolutions granting cash incentives ranging from P25,000 to P100,000 to former SP officials for their valuable contributions and exemplary service to the province, including former Vice Governor Peter Cua, former PBMs Rafael Zuniega, Jan Ferdinand Alberto, Joselito Alberto and the late Pio Tubalinal.
Only one other PBM – Fred Benedict T. Gianan – filed resolutions during the provincial board’s first working day.
Th 25-year-old legislator is proposing two ordinances establishing the Catanduanes Skate and Youth Park and a Voluntary Return Service Program for Campus Journalists supported by the provincial government in press conferences to participate in media and information literacy campaigns in the barangays.
Three of five resolutions will ask the provincial government to increase the allowances or incentives of Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Child Development Workers and Barangay Health Workers while one seeks the inclusion of a Silent Drill exhibition in the Catandungan Festival.