Mabalacat cityhood bid gets House approval

MABALACAT, Pampanga, Philippines – This town, founded in 1712 and once famous for PX goods sold in Barangay Dau from the former Clark US Air Force base, is almost sure to become Pampanga’s third city.

First district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin yesterday said his House Bill 2509 had passed third reading and was already transmitted to the Senate where it is also expected to pass smooth sailing.

Even the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) which has a pending petition before the Supreme Court against the declaration of 16 towns as cities, has expressed support for the cityhood of this town.

Mabalacat would become Pampanga’s third city, after Angeles and the capital San Fernando. Only Angeles, however, is a chartered city entitled to its own representation in the House; it is politically independent from the provincial government, so its residents do not vote for provincial officials.

San Fernando, Pampanga Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, LCP president, said that unlike the controversial 16 towns, Mabalacat meets all cityhood requirements under the law.

Latest statistics show that Mabalacat has a population of over 200,000 and income of over P200 million in the past several years. The town covers an area of 165.8 square kilometers.

Lazatin said he expects Mabalacat City to be formally declared this year.