Will Kalibo Be A City Soon?
Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores of the Lone District of Aklan has filed a bill in the House of Representatives “Converting the Municipality of Kalibo, Province of Aklan into a component city”.
This above stated bill deserves the supports of all Aklanons particularly the Kalibonhons.
However, the previous Congress of the Philippines has approved a law, R.A. 9009 regarding the elements that any municipality must possess before it is converted into a component city. This law R.A. 9009 came about because of the conversion of some municipalities into a city even if it were far away from the looks of a real and goodness of a true city.
Palayan City in Nueva Ecija was just a one road city in 1995. And that road is a highway from Cabanatuan City going to Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. Calbayog City in Samar which existed as a city since the 1960’s can be compared to Nabas, Aklan. Maybe, Nabas is more progressive than it. Calbayog has not progressed as it is very near Catbalogan, the capital town of Samar.
Marawi city in the 1990’s can be compared to Libacao, Aklan. It became a city because of its local leaders.
Going back to R.A. 9009, it prescribes the qualifications of a town before its approval by Congress to be a city. Kalibo possess all other requirements as prescribed by R.A. 9009 except three.
First is on land area. The actual land area of Kalibo is much less than the required. As to land area required, Kalibo can only become a city if part of either New Washington, or Banga or Numancia is annexed to Kalibo. Better still if Congress can waive the land area requirement;
Second is on population. Some 150,000 persons must inhabit the municipality so as to become a city.
Kalibo does not have this number of people today. Maybe, after several years, say 10 years, the inhabitant requirement maybe attained. Otherwise, annexation of any one of Banga, Numancia or new Washington be made to hasten immediate approval into a city; and
Third is the income requirement. A municipality, so as to be converted into a city must have an average annual income of P100 million for the last two years. Kalibo did not have that income for the last two years. However, that P100 million annual income is highly attainable. Kalibo will easily obtain that income because of the increasing volume of business in Kalibo. It may also accelerate collection of monthly rentals and taxes from Kalibo Public Market and The Shopping Center.
With the above stated requirements, it is doubtful if the bill of Congressman Miraflores converting Kalibo into a component city will be approved this year.
If Congress is really interest to pass approval of that conversion bill, then the Houses of Representatives and the Senate and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo must have waived some provisions of R.A. 9009 relative to the requirements to be fulfilled before a municipality is converted into a component city.
Will Kalibo be a city soon? This is a big job for Cong. Miraflores. Can he get a majority of the members in Congress so that his bill can be approved into law and Kalibo becomes a city soon? Can Numancia, Banga, or New Washington help Kalibo in its quest to become a city? /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores of the Lone District of Aklan has filed a bill in the House of Representatives “Converting the Municipality of Kalibo, Province of Aklan into a component city”.
This above stated bill deserves the supports of all Aklanons particularly the Kalibonhons.
However, the previous Congress of the Philippines has approved a law, R.A. 9009 regarding the elements that any municipality must possess before it is converted into a component city. This law R.A. 9009 came about because of the conversion of some municipalities into a city even if it were far away from the looks of a real and goodness of a true city.
Palayan City in Nueva Ecija was just a one road city in 1995. And that road is a highway from Cabanatuan City going to Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. Calbayog City in Samar which existed as a city since the 1960’s can be compared to Nabas, Aklan. Maybe, Nabas is more progressive than it. Calbayog has not progressed as it is very near Catbalogan, the capital town of Samar.
Marawi city in the 1990’s can be compared to Libacao, Aklan. It became a city because of its local leaders.
Going back to R.A. 9009, it prescribes the qualifications of a town before its approval by Congress to be a city. Kalibo possess all other requirements as prescribed by R.A. 9009 except three.
First is on land area. The actual land area of Kalibo is much less than the required. As to land area required, Kalibo can only become a city if part of either New Washington, or Banga or Numancia is annexed to Kalibo. Better still if Congress can waive the land area requirement;
Second is on population. Some 150,000 persons must inhabit the municipality so as to become a city.
Kalibo does not have this number of people today. Maybe, after several years, say 10 years, the inhabitant requirement maybe attained. Otherwise, annexation of any one of Banga, Numancia or new Washington be made to hasten immediate approval into a city; and
Third is the income requirement. A municipality, so as to be converted into a city must have an average annual income of P100 million for the last two years. Kalibo did not have that income for the last two years. However, that P100 million annual income is highly attainable. Kalibo will easily obtain that income because of the increasing volume of business in Kalibo. It may also accelerate collection of monthly rentals and taxes from Kalibo Public Market and The Shopping Center.
With the above stated requirements, it is doubtful if the bill of Congressman Miraflores converting Kalibo into a component city will be approved this year.
If Congress is really interest to pass approval of that conversion bill, then the Houses of Representatives and the Senate and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo must have waived some provisions of R.A. 9009 relative to the requirements to be fulfilled before a municipality is converted into a component city.
Will Kalibo be a city soon? This is a big job for Cong. Miraflores. Can he get a majority of the members in Congress so that his bill can be approved into law and Kalibo becomes a city soon? Can Numancia, Banga, or New Washington help Kalibo in its quest to become a city? /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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