Mayor: Give cityhood dispute a rest

AS Bogo City marked its fifth City Charter Day, its mayor called on the League of Cities in the Philippines to drop their plan contesting the  cityhood status of Bogo and other new cities.

“I hope they will put the issue to rest and let the 16 cities move on. It’s not good for the country,” said Bogo Mayor Celestino Jr. in  a text message to Cebu Daily News.

The League of Cities wants to file another case  challenging  the city status of  Bogo and 15 others in the Supreme Court.

The  15 other converted cities are Carcar and Naga in Cebu, Baybay in Leyte, Borongan in Samar, Catbalogan in Samar, Lamitan in Basilan, Tandag in Surigao del Sur, Tayabas in Quezon and Tabuk in Kalinga.

Also included were Bayugan in Agusan del Sur, Batac in Ilocos Norte, Mati in Davao Oriental, Guihulngan in Negros Oriental, Cabadbaran in Agusan del Norte and El Salvador in Misamis Oriental.

Bogo City ‘s festivities last night played out on the Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Community Stage where former 4th district congresswoman Clavel Asas-Martinez was set as the guest speaker.

Martinez led in the turn over of documents of the cityhood of Bogo to its City Council led by Vice Mayor Santiago Sevilla.

It was followed by the awarding ceremony for  outstanding individuals and taxpayers of the city.

The city  sponsored  medical and dental missions  and gave away  free reading eye glasses.

Named “Outstanding Bogohanons” were Cherryl Joyce Tan and Roger Dela Cerna Rondina who both topped the Nursing and Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) board exams this year.

The top five business tax payers were Jollibee Bogo, Inc., Mercury Drug Corp., Norkis Distributor Inc., Gaisano Brothers Merchandising, Inc., and Kool Cola Distributor, Inc.

They also awarded the top five real estate tax payers which include Bienvenido Gulane and Dominga Ortega, Prince Warehouse Club, Gaisano Center Bogo, Mariane Nagano & Osamu Nagano and TS Paulin & Sons Inc.

Bogo City also recognized Peregrina Catampatan as its Outstanding Small-Scale Entrepreneur.

Catampatan, owner of Pering’s Pintos, placed second in the recently concluded Obra Negosyo Eskwela Countryside Enterprise Business Upliftment (One Cebu) Program Season 2.

A fireworks display capped last night’s celebration.