Tarlac board opposes Mabalacat cityhood amid boundary row

TARLAC CITY ,Philippines  – The provincial board of Tarlac has passed a resolution opposing House Bill 2509/4736 seeking the conversion of the Pampanga town of Mabalacat into a component city.

The resolution was unanimously approved and signed during the board’s regular session right after the State of the Province Address of Gov. Victor Yap last Wednesday.

The provincial board members expressed alarm that the House of Representatives has already approved the bill on third reading, thus the passage of the resolution which cited the pending boundary dispute between the Tarlac town of Bamban and Mabalacat.

Should the House bill go through further review, deliberation or amendments by the bicameral committee or by the Senate, the board said it should include a provision that it should not affect the outcome or final resolution of the boundary dispute.

The board noted that the territorial disagreement between the two municipalities is still the subject of a petition for mandamus as well as a petition for review on certiorari before the Supreme Court.

“We are amazed that not one of our representatives in the province opposed the bill, especially the congressman of the third district,” said Vice Gov. Pearl Pacada, referring to third district Rep. Jeci Lapus, who allegedly co-authored the questioned bill. Pacada and Lapus belong to the same political party.

Reporters tried to get the side of Lapus but could not reached him.