House of Representatives Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan has been declared “adopted son” of Northern Samar and Samar via separate resolutions passed by their provincial boards.
In Resolution No. 285, the Northern Samar provincial board cited Libanan “for committing himself to the upliftment of the lives of Nortehanons.”
In Resolution No. 17-862-24, the Samar provincial board also recognized Libanan “for his exemplary and notable contributions to the development of Samar.”
The two provinces credited Libanan for his help in mobilizing much-needed national government development funding for high-value projects that are meant to improve the living standards, social conditions, and economic opportunities for Samarnons.
Libanan, who is from Eastern Samar province, earlier introduced a House bill proposing to establish the new Samar Island Region.
As proposed by Libanan in House Bill No. 10727, the three provinces of Northern Samar, Samar, and Eastern Samar would form the new administrative region.
“As one region, we shall be able to unlock the full economic, agricultural, and tourism potential of the entire Samar island,” Libanan said.
Libanan represented Eastern Samar’s lone district in Congress for nine years from 1998 to 2007, and served as vice governor from 1992 to 1995.
He is currently 4Ps party-list representative in Congress.
Eastern Samar officials have been urging Libanan to run again for the province’s lone congressional district in tandem with Gov. Ben Evardone as gubernatorial candidate.
Eastern Samar’s vice governor, Maricar Goteesan, 13 provincial board members, 19 municipal mayors, and 19 association of barangay captain presidents, have signed separate manifestos declaring their support for the Libanan-Evardone team-up in the 2025 mid-term elections. (PR)
