MABALACAT CITY -- The City Council here has declared former Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales as “father of Mabalacat cityhood.”
This was gleaned in Resolution Number 392 approved by the City Council last July 23 giving due recognition to the former mayor.
The resolution stated that Morales had rendered many years of dedicated public service as local chief executive of Mabalacat City.
“Foremost among his outstanding achievements is the passage into law of Republic 10164 in July 2012 which declared Mabalacat as component city of Pampanga,” the resolution stated.
On May 18, 2012, then President Benigno Aquino III approved House Bill 4736, an “Act Converting the Municipality of Mabalacat in the province of Pampanga into a Component City to be Known as Mabalacat City.
House Bill 4736 which became Republic Act 10164 was sponsored by Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government.
In July of the same year, Mabalacat town gained its cityhood status after some 14,078 out of the 19,542 voters, voted for the town’s conversion into a component city.
Morales said the revenues of Mabalacat had increased from P32 million to P1.4 billion annually because of its conversion into a city.
The city council resolution stated that the Mabalacat cityhood has resulted into big income and influx of investors.
Aside from the cityhood, Morales also supported various major infrastructure development projects including the accessibility of the city.
The former mayor initiated the establishment of government hospitals, Mabalacat Bus Terminal and public schools like the Mabalacat City College.
Morales also pushed for the construction of the Clark perimeter road to decongest MacArthur Highway.
During his term, Morales prioritized the scholarship program to help indigent students finish their education.
Under his administration, the city government received the Seal of Good Local Governance for three consecutive times in 2015, 2016, and 2017.