July 7, 2007
The town of Carcar was formally declared as a city of Cebu province after a plebiscite was held to ratify Republic Act No. 9436, the city’s charter, which lapsed into law in April of the same year.
Carcar was one of 16 municipalities whose conversion to cities were opposed by the League of Cities of the Philippines because the towns did not supposedly meet the income requirements for cityhood.
The Supreme Court had thrice flip-flopped on its decision on the case. In February 2011, the high tribunal issued its fourth and final ruling, upholding the constitutionality of the cityhood laws.
In January 2013, July 7 of every year was declared a special working day to be known as the “City of Carcar Charter Day.”
At the heart of the city is the famous Carcar rotunda that is surrounded by Spanish and American heritage structures and stalls in the public market that serves Cebu’s finest lechon, chicharon, ampao and many other delicacies.
July 12, 2013
Interactive museum “Bahay Kaalaman” (Knowledge Management Center) in Batangas City, capital of Batangas province, was inaugurated by the Batangas City government and the United States Agency for International Development to provide public access to information on climate change and clean energy.
The decades-old Mabini Building of Batangas National High School, where the museum is located, was a product of environment-motivated restoration.
It had been declared as unsafe for use in 2009, but was later restored by the government with a P50-million budget.
The knowledge center houses audio-visual presentations, games and e-learning materials.
Exhibit facilitators were briefed on renewable energy and climate change before the facility was fully opened to the public.
Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research with Zathea dela Peña and Martha Pangilinan, Inquirer interns