Quest for Mexico cityhood begins

THE quest for cityhood of Mexico town in Pampanga has begun after Third District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr. filed House Bill No. 1683 which aims to convert the first class municipality into a component city.

If approved, the town will be formally known as the City of Mexico.

Gonzales filed the house bill in line with the Local Government Code of 1991 through Section 450 which allows the conversion of a municipality or a cluster of barangays “if it has a locally generated average annual income, as certified by the Department of Finance, of at least P100,000,0000 for the last two consecutive years.”

Under Section 450, a town must also have at least 100 square kilometers and a population of not less than 150,000 inhabitants.

Gonzales said that the income of Mexico town has reached a total amount of P105,518,000 in 2018 alone. In 2021, the town’s income reached a total of P193,427,992. The Philippine Statistics Authority has also certified that the town has a population of 173,403 inhabitants as of January 18, 2020.

Mexico town has a total land area of 119.9438 square kilometers or 11,994.38 hectares based on its updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

“Mexico, classified as a first-class municipality, has met all the requirements, and none of any disqualification as provided by the Local Government Code to become a component city. It is rewarded for the handwork and perseverance and self-reliance of its citizenry through their elected capable officials and able leadership of Mayor Teddy Tumang,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales is asking Congress for the immediate passage of the bill.