President Manuel Quezon’s speech on the creation of the quadruplet cities of Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Zamboanga
(Part I)
It was during the first year of the presidency of Manuel Luis Quezon that the municipalities of Cebu (Commonwealth Act 58), Davao (Commonwealth Act 51), Iloilo (Commonwealth Act 57) and Zamboanga (Commonwealth Act 39) they were enacted in 1936 and were all inaugurated in 1937. Here is the speech of President Quezon delivered in Iloilo (it was Elpidio Quirino who was Secretary of the Interior who represented Quezon in the inauguration of Cebu City on February 24, 1937):
“CREATION OF CHARTERED CITIES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
[Delivered upon the Inauguration of the City of Iloilo, Iloilo City,
August 25, 1937]
Mr. Governor, Mr. Mayor, Ambassador MacMurray, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
I have come to be present at the inauguration of the new city government of Iloilo.
At the last session of the National Assembly, that legislative body enacted laws creating the Cities of Iloilo, Cebu, Zamboanga, and Davao. With the exception of Davao, the initiative for the enactment of these laws came exclusively from the Assemblymen representing the various provinces to which the newly-created cities belong.
In the case of Davao, that city was created by common agreement between the executive department, on the one hand, and the Assemblyman from Davao, the Honorable Romualdo Quimpo, on the other. The executive department and Assemblyman Quimpo agreed that, there being a large foreign population in Davao, as there is in Manila and in Baguio, a city government similar to that existing in Manila or Baguio should be provided for Davao.
I am not prepared to say positively that, from the stand point of democratic principles, the creation by the National Assembly of these new cities is theoretically, at least, a progressive step. The question is open to discussion and volumes could be said and written in support of either side. I am certain, however, of the following facts:
1.That the law which provides for the appointment, instead of the election, of the mayor will free the new cities from the influence of partisan politics in the administration of their affairs and in the execution of their laws. Thus, the efficiency and impartiality of the city government, in the administration and execution of its laws and ordinances, will be better insured.” (To be continued)
- Latest
