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CEBU CITY — Eleven out of 16 governors in the Visayas signed a manifesto of support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his visit to the Cebu Provin-cial Capitol on Thursday.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia led the show of unity, gathering the One Visayas Bloc at the Capitol, where they personally handed over their manifestos to Marcos, affirming their commitment to his administration's programs and policies.
The governors who signed the manifesto included Jose Enrique Miraflores of Aklan, JC Rahman Nava of Guimaras, Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol, Eugenio Jose Lacson of Negros Occidental, Manuel Sagarbarria of Negros Oriental, Jake Vincent Villa of Siquijor, Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, Jericho Petilla of Leyte, Sharee Ann Tan of Samar, and Damian Mercado of Southern Leyte.
They joined Cebu's local officials, including barangay captains, mayors, vice mayors, councilors, provincial board members, and congressional repre-sentatives, in expressing support for the president's leadership.
In his speech during the event dubbed as "Unity Lunch" at the Capitol Social Hall, Marcos recalled how his wife, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, became emotional when she received similar manifestos of support during Cebu's 455th founding anniversary in August 2024.
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The president recalled teasing his wife for being emotional, telling her that she was "too much of a crybaby" and that she was "easily brought to tears."
After witnessing the strong backing from Visayan leaders, Marcos admitted he now understood her emotions.
"After today, after the overwhelming expressions of support that I have received today, well, I understand perfectly well why she shed a tear. Thank you, thank you so much," he said.
Marcos expressed his appreciation for Cebu, describing the province as a place of kindred spirits and reflecting on his expe-rience as a former governor of Ilocos Norte.
He said he was "very, very happy" to be among like-minded individuals during his visit. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco and other key Cabinet members accompanied him at the event.
The president's visit reaffirmed Cebu's key role in national development and demonstrated the growing influence of the One Visayas Bloc in shaping re-gional policies.
Marcos highlighted the ongoing New Cebu International Container Port project, which is expected to drive economic growth in Cebu.
Set for completion in 2028, the project aims to ease congestion at the existing Cebu port and enhance the movement of goods and services in the re-gion.
The signing of the manifesto at the Capitol was part of the president's packed schedule in Cebu.
Earlier in the day, he met with the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas at the DepEd Ecotech Center in Barangay Lahug, where discussions focused on economic development, infrastructure, and regional growth strategies.
At midday, he attended the 20th National Convention of Lawyers at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, where he addressed legal professionals on policy reforms and developments in Philippine law.
Following the Unity Lunch at the Capitol, Marcos proceeded to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) to inaugurate its alternate runway.
The completion of the new runway is expected to ease air traffic congestion and accommodate more international flights.
