FORMER City of San Fernando City Administrator and Kaganapan 2019 chairman Ferdinand Caylao said that San Fernando has reaped the benefits of cityhood and will continue to be one of the leading cities in the region.

Caylao said this during the press conference on the start of the cityhood anniversary of the capital city. San Fernando has been a component city for 18 years now.

The former city administrator said that the fiscal benefits of cityhood are very evident in the city’s overall development. Caylao said that back in 2004, the city’s projected income was only P400 million. Now it is P1.7 billion.

San Fernando became a component city on February 4, 2001 following the approval of Republic Act 8990 in a plebiscite the previous day during the administration of then mayor Dr. Rey B. Aquino and Third District Representative Oscar S. Rodriguez.

Caylao said the city continues to experience developments in its business sector while the local government is pursuing plans to spur economic activity and prepare the needed infrastructure.

He added that the city celebrates its cityhood anniversary each year to remind its people of how far the city has gone in terms of development.

Among the activities for this year include the Teachers’ Heroism Day on January 31; Kaganapan Citywide Sale on February 1 to 15; Citywide Clean-up Day on February 1; Padyak Para Sa Kalusugan at Kalikasan and CLRAA participants send off on February 2; GongXi Facai: Chinese New Year Celebration, Experience China Exhibit, and Spring Festival Concert on February 3 to 9 among others.