By Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu [ PIA ]
Wednesday 8th of February 2012
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Feb. 8 (PIA) -- The Senate on Tuesday approved on third and final reading House Bill No.4736 otherwise known as the act converting the municipality of Mabalacat in Pampanga into a component city.
In his sponsorship speech, Senate Committee on Local Government chairperson Ferdinand Marcos Jr. noted that “Mabalacat has risen to become one of the most progressive municipalities with social infrastructures such as schools, hospitals and housing units built to accommodate a growing population and major roads and bridges upgraded to meet the needs of a city."
Marcos added, “As certified and attested to by the Bureau of Local Government Finance, the conversion of Mabalacat into a component city will not reduce the income of the province of Pampanga to less than the minimum annual income requirement of P20 million under the Local Government Code.”
Also, the town’s population based on the 2007 National Statistics Office survey is 203,307 which is way above the population requirement for a city.
In a statement, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile lauded the Senate Local Government Committee for its prompt action on legislative measures calling for conversions of qualified municipalities into cities.
Enrile said the upgrade of Mabalacat is welcome news to the entire Pampanga as it will have the distinction of being one of the provinces in the country to have three cities.
Pampanga’s other cities are Angeles and San Fernando.
The approved Senate bill has been referred to the Bicameral Conference Committee to consolidate it with the measure’s approved version in the House of Representatives.
Upon consolidation, a plebiscite will be held in Mabalacat for the ratification of such conversion by a majority of the registered voters of the town. (WLB/CLJD-PIA 3)
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