If elected president, Liberal Party standard bearer Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III will organize a multi-sectoral dialogue to settle the decades-old issue on the transfer of regional seat of government of the Zamboanga Peninsula from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City.

In a press conference with national and local media in Zamboanga City last week, Aquino said the only solution to the unsettled issue is to open up the negotiation table among officials of the two cities and that of the neighboring localities.

It was recalled that the disputed transfer was already an issue of debate since the incumbency of President Corazon Aquino, when it was proposed to transfer the regional seat to Pagadian City but maintain the commercial center at Zamboanga City.

But Pagadian City is considered the host of the regional government seat of Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9) in the island of Mindanao, something that the officials of Zamboanga City have been questioning all along.

"Perhaps it’s high time to have a dialogue among the people in the region on how best we can provide services necessary to the region. There are other members who have a say, they will be also consulted," he said, adding that the same controversy was raised during his earlier visit to Pagadian City.

Instead of imposing his position on the issue, Senator Aquino said a dialogue among concerned parties will work best.

"[Let us] be fair to all parties and let the people decide. They are our masters in a democratic state. I believe in consultations and I will abide by whatever the decision is of the majority. I will advance their cause because that is what a democracy is," he said, adding that he will not spend six years of his term dilly dallying and trying to come up with a solution.