Solon pushing Quezon City as capital of the Philippines

An administration lawmaker has moved to restore Quezon City as the capital and seat of government of the Philippine Republic.

In justifying her proposal contained in House Bill No. 574, Quezon City 4th district rep. Nanette Castelo-Daza pointed to the transformation of Quezon City as a thriving city as well as it being already the site of a number of legislative, judiciary and executive offices.

According to Castelo-Daza, Quezon City was declared the Capital City of the Philippines by virtue of Republic Act No. 333 on July 17, 1948 only to be repealed by Presidential Decree No. 940 when the capital was reverted back to Manila.

Since then, Castelo-Daza said, Quezon City has become a thriving city with enormous infrastructure developments particularly its road networks and flourishing business establishments.

"In fact, Quezon City is now considered a center of trade, commerce and education. With massive infrastructure progress, it is now able to absorb modern transportation, communications and accommodation facilities," Castelo-Daza said.

Castelo-Daza said several national government offices are already in the city where the planned National Government Center (NGC) is located. The NGC covering a huge area in Constitution Hills Quezon City is expected to accommodate the Legislative, Judiciary and Executive Groups.

Among the government offices in Quezon City are the House of Representatives, Sandiganbayan, Civil Service Commission, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Commission on Audit.

The transfer of national government offices to Quezon City has been ordered as early as 1967, according to Castelo-Daza.

"Establishing Quezon City as the Capital City of the Philippines and declaring it as the permanent seat of the national government is imperative to fully realize the vision of a National Government Center that can pave the way to an efficient and effective public service," Castelo-Daza said.