[ Manila Bulletin Online ] November 15, 2008
By RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT
TACLOBAN CITY — This city’s bid to become one of the first highly-urbanized cities (HUC) in Region 8 and the 34th in the country has gained the support of two congressmen from Eastern Visayas.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has signed Presidential Proclamation 1637 last October 04, 2008, proclaiming Tacloban City as an HUC. However, this will only take effect upon ratification in a plebiscite to be held within 120 days from the presidential declaration.
Tacloban City has already attained the two basic requirements in the Local Government Code to become an HUC: A population of at least 200,000 and an income of P100 million. Tacloban City’s population is more than 217,000 based on the 2007 census, with an annual income of P500 million.
Reached through their mobile phones, Representatives Emil Ong of the 2nd District of Northern Samar and Glenn Chong of the Lone District of Biliran both expressed support for the city’s bid.
"I support the bid for Tacloban to become a highly-urbanized city provided they have all the requirements of an HUC, which, I believe, it has qualified, having attained the requirement under the Local Government Code.
"Also, that would definitely enhance progress for the people of Tacloban," Ong stressed.
"But it is for the people of Tacloban to decide in a plebiscite," added Ong, who also served as Presidential Assistant for Region 8 under former President Joseph Estrada.
Pointing out that Tacloban City is the regional capital of Eastern Visayas and that advantages far outweigh disadvantages, Chong also came out in support of the city’s bid. "There are a number of benefits that comes with the classification of a city as highly urbanized. I believe that Tacloban, being the regional capital, and after weighing the positive and negative effects, deserves such classification," Chong said.
HUC-hood, accordingly, will result in more investors coming to Tacloban and other parts of the region, a bigger Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share of the city, creation of a lone congressional district, and additional departments that can better tackle problems faced by the city and its residents.
The support of the two congressmen came on the heels of public endorsements by various organizations, political leaders, and heads of national agencies from this city and other parts of the region.
Earlier, the city’s bid garnered the support of League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), the Regional Development Council (RDC), City Mayors Maloney Samaco of Maasin, Coefredo "Tekwa" Uy, Mel Senen Sarmiento of Calbayog, Mayor Hilario Caadan of Tolosa, Leyte, Senior Board Member Carlo Loreto, and Board Member Wilson Uy.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez is pushing for the conversion of Tacloban to become the country’s newest HUC on the ground that it would help attract more investors that would generate income and employment for its people.
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