Sunday, September 07, 2008 Gullas honored as father of Naga cityhood
REP. Eduardo R. Gullas has officially “fathered” three component cities in his congressional district, and one of them honored him Friday night for his work.
City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong said that Gullas fought an uphill battle in Congress to convert the former industrial town into Cebu’s ninth city.
The City of Naga celebrated its first Charter Day last Friday night. It is the third city in Cebu Province’s first congressional district, Gullas’ political turf, following Talisay in 2001 and Carcar in July last year.
“It’s God’s will,” said Gullas in his speech.
Republic Act 9491, or the Charter of the City of Naga, would not have been signed into law had Congress not held special sessions last year, Gullas said.
The sessions gave former senator and now Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim, chairman of the committee on local government, a chance to submit the bill converting Naga town into a city.
Chiong also paid tribute to his late brother, Ferdinand, a former mayor, for laying the groundwork that led to Naga’s cityhood.
Ferdinand, whose statue now proudly stands at the city’s reclaimed baywalk, never witnessed the town’s conversion into a city last year.
He died of cancer in April 2006, leaving the mayorship to the care of the then vice mayor Chiong.
Both Gullas and Chiong called on the public officials, department heads, village chiefs, teachers and ordinary Nagahanons to unite and work or the city’s progress.
Differences
“Let’s bury our political differences and work for the city’s growth,” Gullas said.
He also called on the education officials to restore the old Filipino values such as the kissing of hands as a sign of respect for one’s elders and the 6 p.m. Angelus.
The change must come not solely from the physical improvement of the city but also the moral and spiritual values of the Nagahanons, he said.
Also, Chiong said that their conversion to a city will serve as a challenge for local officials and Nagahanons alike. He considered “sincere and genuine service” as a vital cog to ensure Naga’s steady growth.
From P60 million as a first-class municipality, Naga’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) tripled to over P180 million in its first year as a component city.
With this much larger IRA share, Chiong is embarking on major infrastructure projects such as a new City Hall, a public market, a Naga City College and an “ultra-modern” slaughterhouse.
The first charter anniversary ended with a dance presentation of the city employees and a five-minute fireworks display at the baywalk grounds. (GC)
