• NEWS ROUNDUP •
Palace to block cityhood for
unqualified towns
MALACAÑANG yesterday said it would reject moves to convert
any unqualified municipality into a city in view of the growing opposition of
city mayors because of their decimated share in the internal revenue allotment
(IRA).
The League of Cities of the Philippines has asked for a
moratorium on conversion until the Supreme Court rules on their petition
questioning the conversion of 16 so-called unqualified towns into cities.
Chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Antonio Apostol said
government will not object to conversion as long as the municipality is
qualified. "That is unfair and that will really reduce the IRAs of the cities.
Tama iyong ipinaglalaban nung mga cities," he said.
Apostol said a cityhood conversion bill is considered
"political" because it would enable certain unqualified politicians to run
again, but this time as city mayor.
However, Apostol’s statement was not in line with the actions
of President Arroyo on the said bills last year.
Despite the objections of the LCP, Arroyo allowed the enrolled bills
converting the 16 municipalities into cities to lapse into law instead of
vetoing them. The bills automatically became laws during the campaign period for
the 2007 elections. – Regina Bengco
‘Battle for Manila’
commemorated Feb. 3
THE city of Manila will observe the 63rd anniversary of the
Battle for Manila (formerly known as "Liberation of Manila") with the theme "Kagitingan
at Kalayaan" on Sunday, Feb. 3.
The formal commemoration led by Mayor Alfredo Lim will be at
the Freedom Triangle of Manila City Hall beginning at 8 a.m.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro will be the guest speaker.
Atty. Diosdado Guytingco, who fought in the Battle for Manila, will speak in
behalf of the survivors. The ceremony will include raising the Flag at
half-mast, a minute of silence, a gun salute, floral offerings and the playing
of "Awit ng Maynila," the City’s official song in honor of the 100,000 civilians
who died with thousands of Filipino guerrillas, American and Japanese soldiers
during the month-long battle in February 1945.
Lim will open at city hall’s Bulwagang Rodriguez the Kagitingan at Kalayaan
exhibit sponsored by the Manila Historical and Heritage Commission in
cooperation with the Museo ng Maynila. Ambassadors of the US, Australia, Canada,
France, Mexico and other members of the Allied Powers are expected to attend.
The Japanese ambassador has also been invited.
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