Duterte proclaims San Jose del Monte as a highly-urbanized city – Bulacan solon

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has proclaimed San Jose del Monte in Bulacan as a highly-urbanized city, San Jose del Monte Rep. Florida Robes announced on Saturday during the inauguration of the San Jose del Monte Convention Center in Barangay Sapang Palay.

“I am very honored to announce that President Rodrigo Duterte has declared our beloved city a highly-urbanized city,” Robes said.

“We have long waited for this and we will work more to make us truly deserving of this proclamation for the people of San Jose Del Monte,” she added.

According to Robes, Duterte issued Proclamation No. 1057 declaring San Jose Del Monte as a highly-urbanized city “subject to ratification in a plebiscite by qualified voters in the city.”

Robes said the President could declare a city highly-urbanized within 30 days after it had reached a population of 200,000 0r more, as certified by the Philippine Statistics Authority. It should also have an income of at least P50 million as certified by the city treasurer.

San Jose del Monte had achieved both qualifications – as “verified and attested to by the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Department of Finance – Bureau of Local Government Finance, as Duterte pointed out in his proclamation.

Duterte issued the proclamation on the request by the city government through a resolution.

“[I]t is a declared policy of the government to support the initiatives of local governments to attain their fullest development as self-reliant communities, and make them effective partners in the attainment of national goals,” the President stated in the proclamation.

[atm]