Congress urged to fast track Kalibo’s cityhood

Che Q. Indelible
2007-02-22
KALIBO, Aklan – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan here approved a resolution urging the House and Senate leadership to fast track the passage of House Bill No. 4558, “An Act converting the municipality of Kalibo into a component city to be known as the City of Kalibo.

This bill was passed by Rep. Florencio T. Miraflores during the 12th Congress.SP member Plaridel Morania said through Kalibo Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 2005-020, the municipal government of the capital town has expressed the desire of its constituents and political leaders that their town be converted into a city.

The provincial board has subsequently endorsed the said SB resolution in March 2005.

Morania said that while local officials of Kalibo and Aklan admit that this municipality may be lacking in the required standards for cityhood in terms of population and land area, it has more than qualified in terms of annual income.

“As a capital town and the hub of commercial, trade, educational and social activities, there were legislative precedents which effectively converted large or capital towns of many other provinces into cities which are similarly situated like Kalibo,” he said.

Kalibo has been classified as a first class municipality since 1997 and has evolved as the educational and socio-economic center of the entire Northern Panay catering even to the basic needs of thousands of people from neighboring towns and provinces not to mention the transients and visitors.