August plebiscite set for Isabela town to be city

ILAGAN, Isabela—A new law granting this town city status will be up for ratification in an Aug. 11 plebiscite, according to Ilagan Mayor Josemarie Diaz.

On June 21, President Aquino signed into law Republic Act No. 10169 which converts the town into a component city.

The Commission on Elections will conduct and supervise the plebiscite.

The Ilagan cityhood law states that the town’s concurrent officials “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.”

Diaz said residents should not fear the economic implications of a city status, citing a provision of the law that stressed that no increase in local taxes would be imposed by the city within five years from becoming a city.

“It is high time for us to attain city status. We need not be left behind by our neighboring areas such as Cauayan City and Santiago City,” said lawyer Jonathan Cristobal.

The measure was sponsored by Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano Jr., who said that Ilagan could harness more resources “for impact-driven social and infrastructure projects for the 91 barangays” by being a city. Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon