|
Friday, January 26, 2007
Lapu-Lapu proclaimed highly urbanized city
CEBU CITY -- President Arroyo proclaimed Lapu-Lapu City as a highly urbanized city last Tuesday.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza said a plebiscite will immediately follow.
Sun.Star Network Online's Sinulog Festival Coverage
Post your Sinulog greetings
But opposition Councilor Eugene Espedido said this requires a thorough study.
"That could determine the success or the failure of Lapu-Lapu City," Espedido, who is running for vice mayor this May, told Sun.Star Cebu.
Once a component city is converted into a highly urbanized city, according to
Presidential Proclamation 1222, salaries of its employees and officials will increase, and taxes as well, Radaza said.
"Our resolutions need not pass through the Province (Cebu Provincial Board) for approval," the mayor also said.
Its police station will no longer be under the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).
"Our status will be upgraded from a police station to Lapu-Lapu City Police Office," said City Police Chief Louie Oppus, whose designation by that time will be "city director" with the rank of senior superintendent.
More benefits, he said, will include additional forces and additional fund allocation for his maintenance and other operating expenses.
He said the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office will be in "equal footing" with the Mandaue City Police Office, Cebu City Police Office and the CPPO.
In her signed proclamation, President Arroyo said the new status will take effect after ratification in a plebiscite, which will held 120 days from the date of the presidential declaration.
"Paninguhaon gyud nga ma-include na sa election (We will work hard to have this included in the elections)," the mayor assured.
The city met the minimum annual income and population requirements of P50 million and 200,000, respectively.
The City Government asked the President through a resolution last April to declare Lapu-Lapu a highly-urbanized city.
The city's income reached P603.47 million in 2005 and its population was recorded at 217,019 as of 2000.
But Espedido wanted to weigh the benefits and the disadvantages of becoming a highly urbanized city.
Though he is not against it, Espedido doubted if the City Government can still afford to maintain its district hospital without the Provincial Capitol's help.
Capitol and sixth district board members contributed to the city's progress and funded some of its projects.
Espedido wants to know why the City wanted to take these benefits away.
Espedido, though, still has to read the proclamation. (Oscar Pineda/Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (January 26, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Intel officer says Capitol siege a necessary evil