MABALACAT, Pampanga, Philippines – An air of jubilation swept the town hall here yesterday amid confirmation that the Senate had approved on third and final reading a bill converting this municipality into a component city.
“This is a dream come true. We batted for this for so many years,” Mayor Marino Morales said, as he announced the cityhood confirmation relayed by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who chairs the Senate committee on local government.
Marcos sponsored House Bill 4736 authored by Pampanga first district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin, creating Mabalacat City.
With the approval, Mabalacat becomes Pampanga’s third city, after Angeles and San Fernando.