NEWSFLASH

BUKIDNON, MISAMIS TO HAVE FIVE NEW CITIES

Cagayan de Oro City, Jan. 12, 2000 Northern Mindanao will have five new cities this yearone for Bukidnon and four for Misamis Oriental.

Rep. Reginaldo Tilanduca’s House Bill No. 8885, already approved on third reading by the House of Representatives last month, would make Valencia as Bukidnon’s second city. The province’s capital, Malaybalay, was converted to a city early last year.

Senators Franklin Drilon and Sergio Osmeña III have filed in the Senate counterpart bills supporting Valencia’s bid to be a city.

“This (conversion) would spell out a more responsive government machinery and a healthier economic climate that would improve financial resources and a rapid business exchange,” said Valencia Mayor Berthobal Ancheta.

Rep. Augusto Baculio of the 2nd District of Misamis Oriental filed four separate bills seeking to convert the towns of Tagoloan, Claveria, Jasaan and El Salvador into component cities of the province.

He added that at least three other Misamis Oriental townsOpol, Villanueva, and Laguin-dinganalso qualify to become component cities of the province.

Congressmen Tilanduca and Baculio said they were confident the Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental towns would be declared as cities given their rapid industrialization and annual incomes that exceeded the P20-million minimum requirement.

“The objective here is to upgrade the local governments’ services, increase their income and at the same time give them more autonomy,” said Baculio.

The local governments’ internal revenue allotments (IRAs) would triple once they are converted into cities.