In Pagadian meet, message not on door clear: New cities keep out

PAGADIAN CITY—The absence of 16 mayors in Friday’s meeting of a group of city officials here was as clear a message as could have been a sign on the door that said “New cities not welcome.”

The national executive board of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) opened its meeting here without the mayors of 16 municipalities whose conversion into cities has generated so much controversy as a result of three contradicting decisions by the Supreme Court (SC).

At Friday’s meeting, however, mayors of 122 cities that compose the LCP were clear about one thing—the new cities aren’t part of the group.

“They were not invited,” said Mayor Samuel Co, this city’s mayor and host of the gathering.

As far as the LCP was concerned, Co said, the new cities were still municipalities.

Controversial cities

The SC, in a decision in February, declared as constitutional a set of laws that converted the following municipalities into cities—Baybay in Leyte, Bogo in Cebu, Catbalogan in Samar, Tandag in Surigao del Sur, Borongan in Eastern Samar, Tayabas in Quezon, Lamitan in Basilan, Tabuk in Kalinga, Bayugan in Agusan del Sur, Batac in Ilocos Norte, Mati in Davao Oriental, Guihulngan in Negros Oriental, Cabadbaran in Agusan del Norte,  Carcar in Cebu, El Salvador in Misamis Oriental and Naga in Cebu.

It, however, was not the High Tribunal’s first decision on the case.

In 2008, it declared as unconstitutional some of the laws that led to the conversion of the towns into cities.

But in 2009, it reversed the decision, giving a nod to the 16 towns’ city status.

Yet, again, in 2010, the High Tribunal insisted on its 2008 ruling.

“Right now, there is a pending motion for reconsideration, so we still consider them municipalities,” Co said.

For the LCP, the new cities have not met either one or all of the criteria for them to be considered cities—population, land area and income.

Less money

The league also claimed that the entry of the new cities would reduce their internal revenue allotment (IRA), a subsidy that local government units receive from the national government.

With a reduced IRA, Co said his city will lose at least P50 million, which can be used for social services, assistance to the police, city-paid public school teachers and salary increase of government workers.

Mayor Michelle Rabat, of Mati, Davao Oriental, in a phone interview, said she did not mind not being invited to the LCP meeting.

“It’s expected. The LCP came out with a statement that they still intend to fight us. What’s important to Mati is that the city mayors of Southern Mindanao have accepted and recognized us,” Rabat said.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has, in a way, accepted the fact that there are 16 new cities.

“We have to respect the Supreme Court. The Department of Budget Management has already acknowledged the entry judgment of the Supreme Court and correspondingly advised cities of the reduction (of IRA),” Duterte told the Inquirer.

“For Davao City, we have already considered the IRA reduction when we drafted the 2012 budget,” she added.

Maybe next year

Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, who is also LCP vice president for the National Capital Region, expressed hope that, soon, the league members would recognize the new cities.

“We have filed a motion for reconsideration, yes, but we are not that optimistic,” he told the Inquirer.

Gatchalian said the LCP would eventually have to “respect the SC decision.”

“The LCP would not look good if it will not follow the Supreme Court, if it will not follow the law,” he said.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who was here for the LCP meeting, said his department can do nothing about the problem.

“It is something that they (LCP) have to address. We do not dictate on who will be the members and I think it is something that should not be imposed,” Robredo told the Inquirer.

Gatchalian, however, said there is hope, saying more and more LCP members are recognizing the new cities.

“Maybe, next year they (new cities) will be invited,” he said.

Until then, the LCP’s official letterhead will continue to have “One Hundred Twenty-Two Cities, One Philippines” printed on it. Nico Alconaba, Inquirer Mindanao