Bishop backs move to divide Quezon province

MANILA, Philippines - Church officials in Quezon province have thrown their support behind a proposal to divide the province into Quezon del Norte and Quezon del Sur. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said Monday Gumaca Bishop Buenaventura Famadico arrived at the decision after consultations with clergy and community leaders. An article on the CBCP website said Famadico issued a pastoral letter read in all Catholic churches in the diocese Sunday. In the letter, he said the creation of two separate provinces will assure residents enough share from the internal revenue allotments to finance development projects. He noted many areas in the province are classified as among third- to fifth-class municipalities. The CBCP, citing the Philippine Statistical Yearbook 2008, said Quezon Province, including Lucena City, has a population of 1,882,900 as of August 1, 2007. It has 39 towns and one city (Lucena). Should the December 13, 2008 plebiscite on Republic Act 9495 garner enough support, Quezon del Sur will be composed of the municipalities of Unisan, Tagkawayan, San Narciso, San Francisco, San Andres, Quezon Plaridel, Pitogo, Perez, Padre Burgos, Mulanay, Macalelon, Lopez, Gumaca, General Luna, Catanauan, Calauag, Buenavista, Atimonan, Alabat and Agdangan. Quezon Province is composed of the Dioceses of Lucena and Gumaca and the Prelature of Infanta. The Diocese of Lucena is composed of Atimonan, Plaridel, Dolores, Tiaong, Sariaya, Candelaria, Tayabas, Lucban, Sampaloc, Mauban, Pagbilao and San Antonio while the Prelature of Infanta is composed of the towns of General Nakar, Real, Infanta, Burdeos, Jomalig, Polillo, Patnanungan, Panukulan and the municipalities under Aurora Province. - GMANews.TV