Noy okays new Laguna city

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has signed into law a bill that converted San Pedro town into a new city, adding one more city in the province of Laguna. It will now be known as the City of San Pedro.

Republic Act 10420, which Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. approved in January this year, was signed by Aquino on March 27 but was published only yesterday.

The law provides for the holding of a plebiscite to ratify the cityhood within 30 days after approval of the law. 

The city government will be composed of a mayor, vice mayor and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, who shall all be elected in regularly held elections every three years, and shall hold the same office for the same period.

The incumbent officials of San Pedro, as per Article 9, Section 52 of the new law, “shall continue to exercise their powers and functions until such time that a new election is held and the duly elected officials shall have already qualified, and assumed their offices.”