MABALACAT, Pampanga- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has slated July 21 for a plebiscite in this 300-year-old town as the final step towards its cityhood.
Mayor Marino Morales, in a meeting of the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC) which he co-chaired, said he expected a heavy turnout of local voters, noting that “all we need is a simple majority plus one” of those who would cast their votes on plebiscite day.
The mayor urged this town’s about 90,000 registered voters to ratify cityhood on July 21 “as a manifestation of gratitude to those who backed the cityhood proposal in Congress.”
Last May 15, Pres. Aquino signed Republic Act 10164 declaring Mabalacat as Pampanga’s third city after Angeles and San Fernando. The law, however, prescribes that cityhood law must first be ratified by the local folk for it to take effect.
“Cityhood means that from our P529 million annually, our internal revenue allotment would be increased to P900 million,” Morales said.
Morales assured his constituents that cityhood would not lead to increase of local taxes. “There will be no new taxes or increase of existing taxes for the next five years of cityhood. Even after five years, taxes need not be raised nor new ones imposed,” he stressed.
“The delivery of basic services to the people will be maximized once this first-class municipality becomes a component city.
Other programs of the local government to further boost education, health, livelihood, employment, peace and order among other concerns will be realized faster once Mabalacat becomes a city,” Morales said.
The cityhood proposal was initially stalled over questions on land area required by law amid claims by officials of Bamban, Tarlac that Barangay Calumpang was within Bamban, not Mabalacat. The barangay, covering 1,486 hectares was added in the cityhood proposal on top of the initial 8,390 land area of Mabalacat.
Morales said the issue was resolved by titles obtained from the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) showing that the Calumpang area “fall under the territorial jurisdiction of Mabalacat.”
He thanked Senators Lito Lapid, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. , Vicente Soto, Franklin Drilon, Jinggoy Estrada and Pampanga 1st district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin for “their full support in sponsoring the Mabalacat Cityhood Bill.”
Morales said he has already embarked on a beautification plan for his town to mark its cityhood.
“After 300 years, Mabalacat will be a component city. It already has an international airport, a freeport and modern expressways,” said Morales.
Morales said a stimulus funding of P500 million was already allocated for the development of major infrastructure projects.
The projects include the Mabalacat public market, a “triple A” slaughterhouse, lighting of major roadways, construction of additional classrooms at Mabalacat Community College and a central business district.
“With this projected structures, Mabalacat will become the center of trade in Pampanga because it will play a major role in the development of the Clark International Airport.
Also, more hotels will be built in Mabalacat to accommodate the influx of tourists,” said Morales.
