Mayor thanks Duterte for signing of Bacolod ‘cityhood’

BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia considered the signing of Republic Act No. 11146 as a gift for the birthday of Bacolod City.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently signed Republic Act No. 11146 that declares June 18 as the Bacolod City Charter Day, making it a special non-working holiday in the city.

“After 80 years, we will now have our history in proper order,” Leonardia said.

“I’m thankful to President Duterte that he signed it and we considered it as a gift for the birthday of Bacolod and I believe that we have a special place on his heart,” Leonardia said.

Duterte attended the city’s MassKara Festival for three consecutive years since 2016.

“He (Duterte) is instrumental to correct the history of Bacolod. The President will now be part and parcel of the history books of Bacolod City,” he added.

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.

Bacolod City Representative Greg Gasataya earlier said that 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.

On September 10, 2018, the Senate unanimously approved the amended House Bill No. 7044 of Gasataya.

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.

The mayor pointed out that the city’s special non-working holiday is now June 18 and not October 19, which it was already repealed or amended accordingly.

Leonardia said that October 19 is still another historic day in Bacolod because it was the inauguration of the city.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said there will be a fireworks display on the last day of the 80th anniversary or the New Year’s countdown at the Government Center. (MAP)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph