MABALACAT, Pampanga – “Cityhood approved.” Thus texted Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales yesterday as the House of Representatives’ committee on local government approved House Bill 2509 authored by First District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin seeking to convert the town into a into a “component city to be known as Mabalacat City.”
Lazatin said Morales and his people “deserve the cityhood” as they worked together to push for progress in the first class town.
Lazatin disclosed that his bill will now be forwarded to the plenary for the 2nd and 3rd reading.
“We expect it to have a smooth sailing at the Plenary. We are confident that it will be approved up to the Senate this year,” said Lazatin.
Morales thanked Negros Oriental Rep. George Arnaiz, local government committee chairman, for supporting the cityhood bill.
But he expressed the “greatest gratitude” to Lazatin for his “all-out support” for the bill which will make this town “very progressive.”
“Rep. Lazatin showed he really loves Mabalacat by following it up well. It’s a most welcome developement,” said the sitting mayor since 1995..
Morales said the projected income of this town will be some P500 million this year. It will increase to about P800 million next year if the bill is approved and becomes a law.
In his introductory message, Lazatin said this town passed the minimum requirements set by law for a component city.
Records from the Bureau of Local Government Finance certified that this town of 27 barangays has met the requirements with average income of P144,541,537.24 million for the past two consecutive years and its population of 203,307 based on the 2007 census report.
The minimum requirements are P100 million for the last two years in income and 150,000 inhabitants for population.
