LONE District Representative Greg Gasataya was upbeat after President Rodrigo Duterte has signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11146 that declares June 18 as the Bacolod City Charter Day, making it a special non-working holiday in the city.

“This will inspire us to do more for Bacolod City.”

The new law commemorates the day when then President Manuel Quezon signed and approved into effect Commonwealth Act 326 that created the City of Bacolod.

Gasataya said the amended bill was filed after the discovery that the City’s Charter was actually signed by Quezon on June 18, 1938.

October 19, on the other hand, was the inauguration of the first city officials, for which Quezon came to Bacolod, he said.

“I’m thankful to the President for signing a bill which stated the three important activities in Bacolod,” Gasataya said.

He said RA 11146 also provides that the inauguration of the City of Bacolod shall be commemorated every October 19 and that the highlights of the MassKara Festival shall be held on the fourth Sunday of October.

“It is for the present and future generations that after 80 years, we will now have our history in proper order,” he added.

After the approval of the bill, Gasataya noted that there will be no more confusion or any concern about Bacolod’s history.

“It is now a law, and I’m sure the President will not sign the bill into a law and approved it until and less it has supported by a factual basis,” Gasataya said.

He said it’s his first approved bill for Bacolod and he also co-authored several national bills. (MAP)