Apostol wants to create a new city
TACLOBAN CITY – Incoming Leyte Second District Representative Sergio “Serging” Apostol said that among his agenda in his comeback stint as congressional representative is to work for the formation of another city in the province of Leyte – this time in the second congressional district.
Apostol said that Carigara’s vision to become a city all on its own may be a farfetched idea since the new law provides for an income of P100 million for the LGU and other stipulations on the population and area requirement for cityhood, the much better idea of merging with three other towns to form a metropolitan city may otherwise be workable.
He said the plan would be to include the nearby towns of Capoocan, Barugo and Tunga in the bid for cityhood. It could be called the City of Northern Leyte.
“But of course, before we can put this into action, there is a need to sit down first with the mayors of these concerned municipalities,” Apostol said.
Initially, he added the local chief executives’ concern is that they may lose their identity as a local government unit or lose its political jurisdiction.
“Initially, they said if this plan could push through, they wouldn’t want to lose their own distinction as an LGU,” Apostol mentioned.
Under the Local Government Code of 1991, a town vying to become a city should meet the standard of P100 million annual income and the population requirement of 150,000.
Carigara earns P80 to P85 million annually and the 2007 census pegged its population at 45, 696. However, if merged with the other towns, these cityhood requirements could easily be complied.
The incoming congressional representative likewise said that making Carigara into a city would benefit not only the town but even the entire province.
He said the multi-million market complex and business center that started full operation this year under the leadership of his daughter, Mayor Anlie Apostol, who is set to take oath as board member of the second district of the province, is part of the general plan of the town’s bid to become a city.
Also, the continuous rehabilitation of the town’s port started by his wife outgoing Second District Representative and incoming Carigara Mayor Trinidad Apostol is also to prepare its bay and port areas for sea crafts and businesses.
“If this will work, Leyte’s northern part can be an alternative business destination for investors and businesses from all over the country, “Apostol said. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
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