Taking advantage of the Christmas season, Most Rev, Luisito A. Occiano, D.D., has appealed for unity and peace among all leaders and stakeholders in Catanduanes as the political strife at the provincial capitol continues unabated.
In letters sent to Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza, Vice Governor Robert A. Fernandez and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the bishop of the Diocese of Virac asked all parties to choose unity over division and peace over conflict.
With the province having endured much due to destructive typhoons, ongoing recovery, and the daily struggles of the people, he said that this is not the time for discord or prolonged disagreement.
“Every conflict unresolved, every decision delayed, weighs heavily on families who are simply longing for help, stability and hope,” he stressed, noting the issue on the release of the Quick Responde Fund intended for typhoon victims is only one issue, with more opportunities and projects in the future to require cooperation.
On behalf of the diocese, Bishop Occiano called on all concerned to set aside personal and political differences, engage in dialogue marked by respect and sincerity, and act with urgency for the common good, especially for the poor and the vulnerable.
“Unity does not mean uniformity, and peace does not mean silence. Rather, both are born when leaders listen to one another and place the welfare of the people above all else,” he emphasized.
Clarifying that the diocese’s appeal is not political but moral and pastoral, the island’s top Catholic leader underscored that at the heart of public services is a sacred trust – to protect life, uphold dignity, and foster harmony – and that the people of Catanduanes deserve leadership that heals rather than divides.
The bishop’s appeal is in response to the worsening rift between Azanza and the provincial board, the majority of which is allied with the former administration.
It may be recalled that the row began when Azanza’s former allies, PBMs Giovanni Balmadrid and Arnel Turado, broke off from the governor over alleged irregularities in the grant of quarry permits and use of PEO workers for a private purpose.
The acrimonious relationship has been exacerbated by the SP majority’s stand on the QRF which it insisted should be released in cash instead of materials as recommended by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), its refusal to oust the two renegade PBMs from their chairmanship of the appropriations and infrastructure committees, and its decision not to confirm the governor’s appointments of three key department heads.
An exchange of caustic remarks by the governor on social media, punctuated by equally sarcastic privilege speeches on the SP floor, has widened the gap between the two sides.
According to an insider, the approval of the 2026 provincial budget has fallen victim to the ugly spat, with the SP subjecting the proposal to strict scrutiny and sending it back for revisions to the governor’s office.
This has raised the possibility that the 2025 budget would be reenacted if the provincial board fails to approve the proposed budget for next year, delaying the implementation of vital programs, projects and activities of the Azanza administration.