Charter Day House bill hurdles second reading

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BY MAE SINGUAY
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February 10, 2018
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BACOLOD City – The House bill that seeks to declare June 18 of every year the Bacolod City Charter Day was passed on second reading, Rep. Greg Gasataya announced.

House Bill No. 5875 also makes that day a special nonworking public holiday in the capital city.

Gasataya filed the bill on June 13 last year.

If the measure gets approved on third reading next week, it will be remitted to the Senate, said Gasataya.

The lawmaker hopes the Senate approves the measure before June this year.

House Bill No. 5875 seeks to amend Republic Act (RA) 7724, which placed the Charter Day every Oct. 19.

Gasataya filed the measure upon the request of political ally Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who said the 1994 law “created the legally unfounded belief that the Bacolod Charter Day is on Oct. 19.”

Leonardia insisted that Commonwealth Act 326, which turned Bacolod into a city, was signed by then President Manuel L. Quezon on June 18, 1938.

Gasataya agreed. RA 7724 was enacted on May 19, 1994 “for the purpose of having the Charter Day coincide with the festivities of MassKara Festival,” he said.

“Bearing with it the misconception that the city was created on the day of its formal inauguration and the first assembly of the city council on Oct. 19, 1938,” the law “caused several problems,” Gasataya said.

The now world-famous MassKara has “overshadowed” the Charter celebration.

Having to hold the two events in the same month caused “struggle” in scheduling the highlights of the festival, “resulting in indirect limitations to its potential for tourist attraction,” he added.

The local government already launched a yearlong celebration of the 80th anniversary of Bacolod as a city.

Through Executive Order (EO) No. 01, series of 2018, Leonardia created the organizing committee that will “stir and manage the 80th anniversary celebration of the city.”

The city will be 80 years old this year. Its Charter was signed by then President Manuel Quezon on June 18, 1938, the EO stated./PN
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