Asturias now first-class municipality

CEBU, Philippines — From a third-class municipality in the third congressional district of the Province of Cebu, the Municipality of Asturias has been upgraded to a first-class local government unit (LGU).

Asturias, through its Public Information Office s social media account, announced that it has been declared a first-class municipality based on the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF)-7 s "unofficial" list of LGUs that have upgraded their income tax classification early this year.

 Ang pagka first class municipality usa ka pruweba sa atong pagka-produktibo, pagka-malampuson, ug pagka-maalamon. Kini usa ka pag-ila sa atong mga kalampusan, sa atong mga pangandoy, ug sa atong padayon nga paglambo  the LGU of Asturias said.

Republic Act (RA) 11964 or the Automatic Income Classification of Local Government Units Act is a law that promotes local autonomy and enables local government units to realize their full economic potential, thus, recognizing the need to determine the financial capability of a local government unit.

In the law that was signed by President Ferdinand  Bongbong  Marcos Jr. in October last year, first class municipalities shall have an average annual regular income for three fiscal years preceding a general income reclassification of at least P200 million.

For second class municipalities, it must have obtained P160 million to P200 million; third class from P130 million to P160 million; fourth class P90 million to P130 million and for the fifth class municipalities, it must gain an average of less than P90 million income per year.

Asturias, is one of the around 20 LGUs in Cebu Province that are set to be declared as first class municipalities.

The other towns are Consolacion, Minglanilla, Liloan, Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Argao, Tuburan, Dalaguete,  Barili, Pinamungajan,  Cordova,  San Remegio, Carmen, San Francisco, Dumanjug, Compostela, Sibonga, and Moalboal.

Asturias is 72 kilometers away from Cebu City and has 27 barangays.    ATO (CEBU NEWS)