BACOLOD City – Sec. Franciso Tolentino, presidential adviser on political affairs, led the turnover ceremony of the executive order that proclaimed the independence of La Castellana, Negros Occidental from the political and territorial jurisdiction of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental.
Governor-general Francis Burton Harrison issued Executive Order (EO) No. 101 in 1917 but La Castellana was declared a municipality in 1918.
Tolentino turned the EO over to La Castellana mayor Rhumyla Mangilimutan on Friday.
The EO is a proof that La Castellana is now on its centennial year as a town.
Mangilimutan wrote the Office of the President to get a copy of EO, which the office granted.
As part of centennial founding celebration, Mangilimutan said she will lead the installation of the Francis Burton Harrison bust in front of the municipal hall on June 12.
She added that Harrison is “very important” for without him, La Castellana won’t be a municipality and would remain as a barangay of then-named Marayo town, now known as Pontevedra.
After the ceremony, Tolentino headed to San Enrique and Pulupandan in the province bringing with him EOs that also proclaimed the areas as municipalities./PN
