Isabela town gears for cityhood

ILAGAN, Isabela — This province‘s "Queen Town" will soon become Isabela’s third city as first district Rep. Rodito Albano, son of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairman Rodolfo Albano Jr., told The STAR that he, along with the other representatives of Isabela, have re-filed the bill for the conversion of Ilagan into a component city.

"We are confident this time that the bill will be passed into law," said Albano, who said that the House committee on local government chaired by Negros Oriental Rep. Emilio Macias II has "positive response" to the bill.

Ilagan Mayor Delfinito "Jojo" Albano, younger brother of Rep. Albano‘s father, said that a counterpart bill will be sponsored by newly elected Senator Lito Lapid, who chairs the Senate committee on local government.

"With the remarkable economic prosperity in our town, I believe it’s high time to move for the cityhood of Ilagan," Albano said.

The proposed city charter of Ilagan failed to pass the 12th Congress.

But Albano is optimistic that concerned House committees in the new Congress would facilitate the passage of the cityhood bill before the end the year.

"The only way to enjoy the fruits of our people’s diligence and hard work is the conversion of our beloved town into a city," he said, citing that Ilagan has consistently bested all the towns in Isabela in terms of revenue collection.— Lito Salatan