Chapter 2Charting the Course: 1989-1997From Reducciones to Pueblos
When the Spaniards decided to permanently stay they organized the natives pre-colonial settlements into encomiendas. An encomienda was a grant given to a Spanish adventurer, called the encomendero, to administratively supervise a community of conquered natives. As the encomendero the Spanish adventurer was required to provide temporal benefits to the people of the community and see to it that they received instructions in the Catholic faith. In return for these, the encomendero was entitled to collect tributes, exploit the labor, and impose quotas on the produce of the people assigned to him.
In implementing the encomienda system, the Spaniards authorities, however, were confronted with the difficulty of finding the natives for collection of tribute, organization of labor gangs and religious instructions because pre-colonial natives lived in scattered and independent settlements. In order to be able to firmly manage them, the people of the conquered villages have to be resettled. This was accomplished either through persuasion or intimidation.
From their ancient settlement sites the natives were moved to larger grouping called reducciones. These reducciones were organized around a newly-built church, a convento where a resident friar lived, a civic building, and a large quadrilateral square called the plaza mayor around which were homes of prominent Spaniards and indios.
The people, from then on, had to live their new lives in the new colonial communities that were designed for them by the regime. The reducciones where the natives were initially resettled were later on transformed into pueblos. In time, the pueblos and their component barangays became the local government units. By 1898 these pueblo were firmly established as a local government institution and became the modern municipality or Philippine town.
Establishing a Philippine City
The first city in the country, the City of Manila, was established by the Spaniards on June 3, 1571, making it the oldest on record. It was not a city as cities are known today. It was a just a chartered municipal corporation whose membership is limited to Spaniards. Unlike the native barangays whose membership is inherent in family or kinship, citizenship in the newly-installed city is by formal adherence or enrollment. It was not a city by todays standards because it was not considered part of a local government unit consisting of more urbanized and developed barangays and did not serve as a general-purpose government for the coordination and delivery of basic, regular, and direct services and effective governance of the inhabitants within its territorial jurisdiction.
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Spanish Governor-General of the colony, was the one who gave the title city to Manila. King Philip II of Spain certified Legazpis declaration a little over a year later on June 19, 1572. He also awarded the city a coat of arms and declared it as a Ciudad Insigne y Siempre Leal, (Distinguished and Ever Loyal City). When the Americans came later, they drafted the new charter for Manila in June 1901.
There are, at present, a total of 143 cities in the country. San Pedro in Laguna is the newest municipality to be converted into a city. Known as Lagunas Gateway, San Pedro is in the boundary between Laguna and Metro Manila. It also shares boundary with the City of Dasmarias. San Pedros charter was ratified by the qualified voters among its residents on December 28, 2013.
The province of Cavite has five cities, namely; Tagaytay, Cavite City, Trece Martirez, Dasmarias, Imus, and Bacoor. The oldest among these is the City of Tagaytay which became a chartered city on January 21, 1938. Cavite Representative Justiniano Montano of Cavite was the one who authored the bill for its charter. It was passed as Commonwealth Act no. 338 and signed by President Manuel L. Quezon. Imus and Bacoor are the newest cities in the province. Their charters were ratified by their respective residents on April 10, 2012 and April 11, 2012 respectively.
Not all cities were created equal; however, they all exist as corporate and administrative entities because of their own specific charters which in addition to the provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991 specify the citys administrative structure and powers. Some municipalities were converted into cities because of their advantageous or strategic locations. Angeles City in Pampanga was chartered on January 1, 1964 because it was strategically located to host the former United Stated Clark Air Force Base. The City of Baguio for its part was converted into a city on September 1, 1909 because the Americans it as a place for rest and recreation. Since then, the city earned the distinction of being the Summer Capital of the country. Olongapo City in Subic became a city on June 1, 1966. Like Angeles City in Pampanga, Olongapo City hosted the former United States Naval Base. Tagaytays charter was ratified on January 21, 1938 because of its location as convenient alternative to Baguio City as the Summer Capital of the country.
Other cities were created in order to establish new government centers in otherwise sparsely populated areas, as in the cases of Palayan in Isabela, Trece Martirez the capital of Cavite, and Quezon City. Some Philippine cities were incorporated to provide a form of localized civil government to an area that is primarily urban. These localities cannot be handled more efficiently by more rural-oriented provincial and municipal governments due to their compact nature and different demography and local economy.
Some cities with huge expanses of rural or wilderness areas and considerable non-urban populations, such as, Calbayog, Davao, Puerto Princesa, and Zamboanga were deliberately incorporated into cities with increased future resource needs and urban expansion, as well as strategic considerations, in mind.
Municipalities aspire for cityhood because it is to their best interest. The most important motivation for cityhood is the increase in the share of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) upon conversion despite the differences in the powers and regardless of status. This will significantly raise the citys financial capabilities. Moreover, they are also allowed to pass ordinances to declare those taxes, fees, charges, and other impositions which were previously levied and collected by the Provincial Government to be collected by and for the city. These taxes may be levied from persons, properties, businesses, acts, and other matters within its jurisdiction, the list of these taxes, fees, and other impositions may include: tax on real properties; tax on transfer of real property ownership; tax on the business of printing and publication; franchise tax; professional tax; amusement tax; annual fixed tax for every delivery truck or van of manufacturers or producers, wholesalers of, dealers, or retailers in, certain products; tax on sand, gravel, and other quarry resources; groundwater extraction tax; golfers environmental fees; Secretarys fees; and Mayors permit fees.
Depending on the category, cities enjoy the additional incentive of being generally more autonomous than regular municipalities. A highly urbanized and independent city for example is no longer administratively supervised by the provincial government. This means that the ordinances enacted by the citys Sangguniang Panlungsod are no longer subject to review by the provinces Sangguniang Panlalawigan. The Provincial Governor and the provincial government will no longer have administrative authority over the citys elected officials. This, however, does not preclude their cooperation on matters of common interest. Its residents could no longer vote nor be voted into any provincial elective office, such as, the position of Provincial Governor, Provincial Vice-Governor, and Provincial Board Members. In addition, highly urbanized and independent cities no longer share tax revenues with any province.
At present there are thirty five (35) highly urbanized cities all over the Philippines; sixteen of these are in Metro Manila. To qualify as a highly urbanized city, it is required that a candidate city or municipality has a minimum population of 200,000 inhabitants as certified by the National Statistics Office (NSO). The income requirement is at least P500 million based on 2008 constant prices, as certified by the City or Municipal Treasurer. For an independent city classification the requirements are the minimum population of 150,000 residents and the annual income of at least P350 million pesos, also based on 2008 constant prices, as certified by the City or Municipal Treasurer.The city charter is a piece of congressional legislation that confers on a city certain powers that a regular municipality or even other cities may not have. A city cannot exist without it. The bill that converts a municipality into a city originates from the Philippine Congress, either from the Senate or the House of Representatives. Once approved by both the upper and the lower houses, the President of the Philippines signs it into law.
Dasmarias and the Local Government Code of 1991Dasmarineos knew early on that their town was destined to become a city because of the developments and progress that took place in the municipality. In order to determine whether or not it was eligible for cityhood at that time municipal officials have to consult Republic Act No. 7160, also known as the Local Government Code of 1991. Authored by then Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., R.A. No. 7160 is the governing law on local government. It establishes the governmental system and powers of provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays in the Philippines. It is also empowers these local governments units to enact local tax measures, including real property taxes and further assures them a share in the national internal revenue. The law stipulates that only an Act of Congress, a congressional legislation, may convert a municipality or a cluster of barangays into a city.For the purpose of Dasmarias, the most relevant portion of R.A. No. 7160 is Book III entitled Local Government Units, in particular Title III The City. Chapter one of that title discusses the role of a city and talk about the manner of its creation. This is the part, Section 450 Requisites for Creation, that would determine the eligibility of the Municipality of Dasmarias. It has to comply with the average annual income for two consecutive years (P20 million based on 1991 constant prices), and the territorial area (100 square kilometers) or population (150,000 residents) requirement specified in that chapter. The average annual income requirement was later revised to P100 million, based on the 2000 constant prices, by Republic Act No. 9009 which was approved on February 4, 2001.
The Municipal 10-Year Development Plan of 1989During the initial research for this book some important facts were clarified regarding the real beginning of the project to convert Dasmarias into a city. Various write ups including the official website of the city mention February 11, 1997 which was actually the date when former Congressman Dragon filed House Bill No. 8963. Further research on the matter confirmed that this was not the case. Records obtained from the Office of the Secretary of the Sangguniang Panlungsod positively point to August 31, 1995 as the date when the move to convert Dasmarias into a city was officially launched. On that date, during the 18th Regular Session of the Sangguniang Bayan, then Vice-Mayor Judino Macayan turned over the chair as presiding officer of the municipal council to SB Member Bernard Michael Bautista so that he can introduce, join in the debate, and defend the resolution to convert Dasmarias into a city. In view of this crucial piece of information, an interview was requested and was promptly accepted by former Vice Mayor Dino Macayan. Dino Macayan is presently serving as the livelihood consultant of the City of Dasmarias. He holds the distinction of being the first non-native of Dasmarias who was elected as the towns vice-mayor. During the interview he narrated that his family came in 1973 with the group of settlers from Manila who made a home in the Dasmarias Bagong Bayan. His entrance into politics in 1983 was via the Kabataang Barangay, who as the chairman of the youth federation for the whole municipality of Dasmarias entitled him to a seat in the Sangguniang Bayan. When Atty. Pidi Barzaga was appointed as the towns OIC-Mayor in 1986, he was retained in the municipal council.
Because of his exposure and experience in the Sanggunian, Dino Macayan was readily elected municipal councilor and became a regular member during the local elections in 1988. He was then promptly appointed by the winner in the mayoralty race, Mayor Recto Cantimbuhan, as the chairman of the Sanggunian Committee on Budget. In 1989 Mayor Cantimbuhan created a committee and assigned it with the tasked of drafting a ten-year development plan for municipality. As the chairman of the Sanggunian Committee on Budget, SB Member Dino Macayan was appointed member of that committee.After having thoroughly researched and discussed the essentials on the economic, social and political data on the town, the committee drafted a plan that covered the ten-year period from 1990 to 2000. In addition to the provisions which aimed for the total development of the municipality, it also provided for the conversion of Dasmarias into a city at the end of said ten-year period. In view of this, a strategy was worked out which was hinged on the reclassification of the municipality from its present fourth class to first class category. This would involve requesting the Department of Finance for the reclassification every three years. So if everything went according to the plan, the town would have been reclassified to third class in 1993, second class in 1996, and a first class municipality by the year 1999. By then Dasmarias would be eligible to apply for cityhood which the committee optimistically expected would be attained by 2000.
When the 1995 election came, SB Member Macayan ran for the position of the Vice-Mayor and won. As the Vice Mayor, the review of the status of the ten-year development plan which he earlier helped formulate six years before became part of his responsibilities. During such review, it was determined that the projections put together by the committee in 1989 were realized ahead of the deadlines set in the plan. During the intervening years, they discovered that the municipality experienced its most rapid growth and progress. The towns average annual which was over P55 million, reached the P86 million by 1997, and was projected to breach P120 million in the coming years. Its population steadily grew to 262,406 that year. For Vice-Mayor Macayan it was a happy result because it would mean that the planned conversion of Dasmarias into a city could be realized ahead of schedule.Vice Mayor Macayan first broached the subject of cityhood to Mayor Recto Cantimbuhan. Already in his third term as the municipal mayor and was therefore disqualified for a fourth term, Mayor Cantimbuhan was initially lukewarm to the idea. He, however, relented and became one of its staunch supporters after having been appraised of the benefits of cityhood to the municipality and its residents. With this, he gave his support and approval for Vice Mayor Macayan to proceed with the project.The vice mayor then sought an audience with Congressman Renato Dragon who was then the representative of the Second District of Cavite. The purpose of that meeting was to secure Congressman Dragons support by sponsoring a cityhood bill in the House of Representatives as required by the Local Government Code of 1991. Congressman Dragon, according to Vice Mayor Macayan, readily agreed to author said bill.
Dasmarias in 1995 has, without doubt, complied with the income, territory, and population requirements set by the Local Government Code of 1991 for cityhood. Vice Mayor Macayan knew that documents certifying these data could easily be obtained from relevant government agencies. But the process of converting a municipality into a city, he was aware, was complicated by the fact that they have to first pass by his colleagues in the Sangguniang Bayan, then in the House of Representatives and the Senate, and finally pass the muster of the town residents during the plebiscite if it came to that stage.Convincing his colleagues in the Sangguniang Bayan was Vice-Mayor Macayans first and most important challenge. Persuading them to support the project was a challenging prospect which necessitated him to convincingly respond to all oppositions that his colleagues would throw at him when the proposal was finally presented for consideration in the municipal council. With this awareness, Vice Mayor Macayan prepared himself for the daunting task ahead by doing research work and consulted people who were knowledgeable of the cityhood process. One of these resource people was Atty. Jaime Fresnedi of the City of Muntinlupa. From Atty. Fresnedi he was able to secure a copy of Muntinlupas city charter which was later used as the guide for Dasmarias.
Hurdling the First ChallengeThe Local Government Code of 1991 is very specific in its instruction that only an act of congress can create a city. It means that cityhood must be legislated, i.e., it has to undergo, in the Philippine Congress, the process of making a bill into a law. Usually it begins in the House of Representatives where a congressman may initiate the filing of a bill for this purpose. Sometimes the initiative may originate from the Sangguniang Bayan of that municipality by passing a resolution to requesting the legislative representative of the district to which that municipality belongs to sponsor a bill seeking cityhood and then they lobby for its passage. This was how the project to convert the Municipality of Dasmarias into a city officially began in 1995.When Vice-Mayor Macayan had finally determined the eligibility of Dasmarias for cityhood, he set the process in motion on August 31, 1995 during the 8th regular session of the Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias by sponsoring a resolution to request Congressman Renato Dragon to sponsor a cityhood bill for Dasmarias in the House of Representatives. He opened his presentation with the indisputable assertion that the municipality was experiencing rapid changes and continuing development. He then directed the councils attention to the goals set by the 1989 Comprehensive Development Plan of the municipality. He claimed that these goals which were set to be achieved in 2000 have already been met.
In view of this, he argued, the municipality was ready to move to the next level of development as stated in the 1989 Comprehensive Development Plan. He then urged his colleagues in the Sangguniang Bayan to seriously consider the conversion of Dasmarias into a city claiming that it more than qualified for that status because of its population of 120,000 and average annual income of P70 million pesos were way beyond the requirements of the Local Government Code of 1991. These were even higher than those of Cavite City which had an annual income of P58 million pesos and a population of only 15,000 residents, or those of Tagaytay City that had an annual income of P67 million pesos. Vice-Mayor Macayan believed that comparing Dasmarias with these cities would stress the fact that Dasmarias, with its higher income and bigger population would qualify and would be subsequently converted easily into a city. With cityhood, he continued, Dasmarias would be entitled to an increased share in the Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA). This would mean additional income which will in turn provide Dasmarias the added financial resources for the construction of the necessary infrastructures, the purchase of much-needed equipment, and for the enhanced delivery of basic social services. This, he said would redound to more efficient and better services attracting more investors into making Dasmarias as the place of choice for their investments.
According to the Vice Mayor, cityhood for Dasmarias can no longer wait nor can it be denied. He, however, cautioned his colleagues that in considering cityhood, they should also take into account the irreversible effects it would have on the municipality and its residents for there will be price to pay. In closing, he enjoined them to ponder on these effects as they deliberate on the resolution.Vice Mayor Macayans opening statement drew immediate reaction from his colleagues. It must be noted, however, that nobody reacted to express opposition to the plan of converting Dasmarias into a city. Everyone appeared to know that cityhood would do more good for the municipality than bad. And since it was the first time that the subject was broached in the council, most members have no idea as to how ordinary Dasmarineos would react to it. In view of this most oppositors contented themselves with questioning the necessity for the resolution at that time. They pointed out that there is need to further study the proposal because as Vice Mayor Macayan stressed, there would be serious consequences. The alleged increase in the rate in the residential and commercial taxes for instance will seriously affect taxpayers of the municipality. This matter was brought up by the author and sponsor proponent of the resolution himself. They also raised the question regarding the effects of cityhood on the pending resolution that sought to separate Dasmarias Bagong Bayan (DBB) from the municipality of Dasmarias. In the light of this, they wanted to know how this would be resolved and which resolution would be the Sangguniang Bayan resolve first.Oppositions to CityhoodSBM Constancio A. Cantada raised the point and called the councils attention to the pending resolution which sought the separation of Dasmarias Bagong Bayan (DBB) and its conversion into a separate and independent municipality. SBM Pablo P. Hugo echoed this concern and asked which resolution the Sanggunian should pursue first; the one which sought the separation of the DBB or the one which endorsed the cityhood of Dasmarias. SBM Teofilo B. Lara for his part rightly remarked that the implications of cityhood to the separation of DBB must be taken into consideration emphasizing that both should be thoroughly studied because during that time a sizeable portion of the 262,406 residents of Dasmarias lived in the DBB.
The Motion to Separate the Dasmarias Bagong Bayan
The establishment of the Dasmarias Bagong Bayan could be traced back in 1961 when the Peoples Home Site and Housing Corporation acquired a 234-hectare land in the municipality. It was developed in 1971 by the Presidential Assistant on Housing and Resettlement Agency which gave birth to the Dasmarias Resettlement Area. When former President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Executive Order No. 419 forming the Task Force on Human Settlement on September 19, 1973, he designated the Dasmarias Resettlement Area as the ideal location for the countrys pilot model for viable human resettlement. His Letter of Instruction No. 19 in 1975 squatters that lived along the creeks, riverbanks and railway tracks of Paco, Pandacan, Sta. Ana, and the fringes of Fort Bonifacio in Makati were relocated to Dasmarias. Some of these settlers that were brought to Dasmarias were also squatters in private and government land in Tondo, Paraaque, and Quezon City.
The municipality of Dasmarias was chosen to house the resettlement due to its accessibility to Metro Manila and other important destinations in the provinces of Cavite and Laguna. The site was a 234-hectare area that was owned by the Philippine Homesite Housing Corporation (PHHC) having bought it in 1961 for a total amount P2.4 million. Later on it was expanded to accommodate more settlers that by December of 2000, the National Housing Authority (NHA) reported that the total land area of Dasmarias Bagong Bayan was 523.24 hectares with a total project cost of P281 million.Upon their resettlement, each family of settlers was given a lot with an area of 90-200 square meters which they loaned from the National Housing Authority (NHA). In no time, the resettlement area population grew. This event prompted the Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias to pass on September 12, 1990, Order No. 108-90, a municipal ordinance which, with the approval of the National Housing Authority (NHA), directed the division of DBB into forty seven barangays. Ten years later in 2000, the National Housing Authority reported that they have documented a total of 22,428 households living in the resettlement area with a population of 148,137. Today, the Dasmarias Bagong Bayan is ranked as the biggest resettlement area in the country. It is also the most successful resettlement site that was established by the government. Its original settlers have successfully integrated themselves into the community and partook of the opportunities Dasmarias has to offer. The burgeoning population in the area had caused the lining of its main thoroughfare, the Congressional South Avenue, with numerous schools and various business establishments. No less than the giant SM Prime Holdings had invested in the area by building the SM Marketmall, a wet-and-dry market, in the place of the old Kadiwa Market. By offering goods at cheaper prices, the establishment serves as an alternative market for the municipality. Moreover, schools such as the Dasmarias Elementary School and the Dasmarias National High School are located in the vicinity of the market. Even reputable educational institutions such as the De La Salle University and the Emilio Aguinaldo College have put up branches in the area. This is a testament to towns growing student population. Even the number of subdivisions which catered to migrants from Metro Manila and other parts of the country increased. Villages like the Windward Hills provide convenient and affordable boarding houses for non-Dasmarineo students studying in nearby colleges and universities.More than two decades ago, however, the Dasmarias Bagong Bayan campaigned for separation from the municipality of Dasmarias. The main reason for the campaign was its burgeoning population which has surpassed that of the old town of Dasmarias. On August 22, 1990, the move to separate the DBB was officially presented to the Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias through a resolution which aimed to request then Congressman Renato Dragon to conduct a study on the possibility of creating a new town in the Municipality of Dasmarias, Cavite. Interestingly, it was also Vice-Mayor Judino Macayan, then a Sangguniang Bayan member, who spearheaded the campaign and presented the resolution during the 21st special meeting of the municipal council.The initial objective of the campaign was to determine whether or not the DBB would qualify for township in accordance with the requirements set by the Local Government Code of 1991. This was because during the debates on the matter, the resolution met some opposition from the Municipal Treasurer himself who expressed an opinion that DBB is not yet in the position to be created as a separate town considering the fundings [sic] thereof. He stressed that this was the primary consideration in accordance with the Local Government Code. In order to address this concern, an additional provision of the resolution passed requested Congressman Dragon to study the possibility of separating the relocation center and create a new municipality if his inquiry confirmed that DBB met these pre-requisites.The resolution was approved accordingly by the Sanggunian on that same day. Mayor Recto Cantimbuhan signed the first endorsement on eight days later on August 30, 1990. Records from the office of the Secretary of the Sangguniang Panlungsod indicate that it was received by the office of Congressman Dragon on September 3, 1990.Two years after it was first officially introduced to the Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, the campaign to convert DBB into a municipality was again presented to the body by SB Judino Macayan on August 28, 1992. Despite opposition from SBM Montano A. Ilano who would like further discussions on the topic, the Sangguniang Bayan passed Resolution No. 92-s-92 on that day. Voting in favor of its approval were SBMs Judino Macayan, Constancio M. Cantada, Francisco Y. Bobadilla, Efren N. Aledia, Angelito S. Veluz, and ABC President Cresencio S. Encabo. This time, the resolution not only sought the study but urged the Congress of the Philippines through Congressman Dragon to convert the Dasmarias Bagong Bayan into a municipality separate from the municipality of Dasmarias. Again, the DBB population which was at that time bigger than that of its host town the original municipality was cited to justify the separation. In view of this, the Sangguniang Bayan deemed it timely to separate the resettlement area for a better, faster, and more efficient delivery of basic services for the common welfare of all constituents.Three years later in 1995, nothing came out of the two resolutions. The House of Representatives was reportedly still studying them. Desperate for concrete congressional action, the Sangguniang Bayan again took up the matter on their May 12 and 26 regular sessions. Citing previous resolutions, it approved another one, Resolution No. 47-s-95, which authorized Mayor Recto Cantimbuhan to make representations with the office of Congressman Renato Dragon and push for the conversion of DBB into a new municipality.
Mayor Cantimbuhan presented Congressman Dragon with a resolution, Resolution 221-s-1995, from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Cavite which endorsed the partition of Dasmarias and the DBB. The provincial council of Cavite took the matter up of converting DBB into an independent municipality in their 14th regular session on June 19, 1995. It resulted to the unanimous approval of a resolution endorsing the conversion of the DBB that very same day. The resolution was signed by the Cavite Governor Juanito R. Remulla. It was transmitted to Dasmarias SB Secretary Ms. Fe Javier by Mr. Romeo C. Mendoza, the Cavite Provincial Secretary on July 5, 1995. This was the same resolution that Mayor Cantimbuhan used to persuade Congressman Dragon to legislate said partition.
One month after that communication, Vice-Mayor Macayan filed a resolution to campaign for the conversion of Dasmarias into a city on August 31, 1995. This put to question the success of the efforts to separate DBB from its mother municipality. During subsequent sessions of the municipal council, SBM Efren N. Aledia urged that in deference to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cavite the municipal council should seek first its opinion on the matter. After all, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cavite had just recently unanimously endorsed the resolution for the DBB separation.
SBM Hugo for his part expressed the opinion that the new campaign would render the separation of DBB moot and academic and therefore should no longer be pursued. For Vice-Mayor Macayan the most logical decision for the Sangguniang Bayan was to amend the resolution seeking to separate DBB from the municipality of Dasmarias to which SBM Montano Ilano and SBM Hermenigildo Mendoza agreed. They, however, failed to pursue the discussion on how it would be amended. To this SBM Aledia manifested his opposition while SBM Florence C. Castillo asked that the proponents provide the body with more information on which they would base their decision on the subject of cityhood for Dasmarias.
On Increased Real Estate, Commercial, and Industrial Taxes
Another contentious subject which caused disagreement among members of the Municipal Council was the allegation that real estate and commercial taxes would be raised once cityhood is attained. Most members of the Sangguniang Bayan were anxious and wanted to be clarified on the issue. Oppositors to the resolution warned of dire consequences for the towns residents should these increases be implemented. The oppositors claimed that the residents would definitely not like it for it will affect their finances.SBM Aledia argued that the campaign was problematic because the municipal tax collector had been unsuccessful in meeting its collection target. Should cityhood happen, he said, this problem would worsen because taxpayers would most likely resist paying higher taxes making collection more difficult. These remarks prompted SBM Castillo to suggest that further study of the resolution be undertaken so that the council could look into all the implications of the campaign for cityhood.
In response Vice-Mayor Macayan stressed that there will be no need to increase real estate, commercial, and other taxes immediately. These concerns, he claimed, could be resolved by simply amending certain fiscal policies and procedures that hinder successful tax collection efforts of the municipal government. Once these improvements are effected, they would be reinforced and sustained by local legislations in order to realize increased income without resorting to higher taxation. This planned fiscal policy should be communicated to the taxpaying public because believed that if they are better informed on the matter, they would readily support the resolution. He also informed the body that his committee had prepared a plan for a town-wide information dissemination campaign that would address that concern.
On its September 14, 1995 session, the Sangguniang Bayan invited the Municipal Assessor, Regalado Andaya to make a presentation to the council and answer their questions regarding the effects of cityhood to municipal finances and its tax collection efforts. In the discussion that followed his speech, Mr. Andaya explained that once converted to a city, Dasmarias would indeed earn more income because it would then be entitled to a higher share in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). Additional income may be derived from other sources as well. One, would be to increase real estate, commercial, and industrial taxes by one (1) or one point five (1.5) percent. This approach is easy but would deter the approval of the resolution for cityhood.
Mr. Regalado Andaya continued to explain that another way to achieve increased revenue from taxes would be to aim for 100 percent tax collection efficiency. A goal that is wrought with much difficulty but achievable nevertheless. Finally, the council may opt for the adoption of both approaches. It may direct the Office of the Municipal Treasurer to increase taxes and improve its tax collection efficiency at the same time.
Mr. Andaya stressed, however, that the decision on which option to pursue rests on the Sangguniang Bayan. He said that the common notion that cityhood would mean an automatic increase in real property, business, and miscellaneous taxes is simply not true. In fact any revision on tax rates may be suspended and implemented only after three or five years of cityhood. Of course there will be no additional income on taxes for Dasmarias if that happened. But, even if upward adjustments in the tax rates are suspended, Dasmarias would still get additional income. These incomes would come from the mandated increase in its share in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), therefore, more income for the municipality.
With the additional income, Dasmarias would have the additional financial resources to spend for the delivery of basic services and construction of infrastructures. It would make it, for example, possible for Dasmarias to acquire the land needed for the extension of the municipal cemetery. It would also be able to purchase additional dump trucks needed for better garbage collection. The Philippine National Police would also be the recipient of better equipment and vehicles for use in its fight against criminality. Additionally, Dasmarias would be able to put up adequate and better infrastructures to attract more investors to put up their business in the locality.
The Cityhood CommitteeSince the issue of converting the municipality into a city was brought upon the Sangguniang Bayan for the very first time, most members did not want to rush things up. They wanted to proceed with deliberateness, careful to avoid overlooking significant details that would adversely affect the success of the campaign. In view of this, they created a committee that was tasked to scrutinize the proposal in its minutest details. The committee would not merely try to find its justifications but should, more importantly, analyze the threats and opportunities presented by cityhood. Appointed members of the committee were Vice-Mayor Macayan who would head it, SBM Bernard Michael I. Bautista, SBM Montano A. Ilano, SBM Pablo P. Hugo, and SBM Ricardo O. Ortillano.Upon the recommendation of SBM Teofilo B. Lara, the committee was directed to conduct consultations with barangay officials in order to know the latters reactions and also determine where they stand on the subject. Their opinions should be solicited because they are the municipal governments closest link to its constituency,because according to SBM Lara, there is really no point in proceeding with the cityhood project if the residents of the municipality were not yet ready as evidenced by the growing problems of squatting, garbage collection, and criminality. He further asked the committee to study the cases of the municipalities of Las Pias, Paraaque, and Valenzuela. These were big municipalities in terms of income and population but have yet to apply to be converted into cities.The Committee submitted its report during the following Sangguniang Bayan Session. Vice-Mayor Macayan began by stating that as members of the municipal council they all aimed to build a better future for Dasmarias and their task was to build that future. In order to do that they have to construct a very strong foundation on which to build this future, and that foundation was the cityhood for the municipality.
Cityhood would mean more income for Dasmarias because of the mandated increase in the IRA share. In addition, there would be more income on taxes that the municipal government would no longer share with the provincial government. Dasmarias would then be able to build infrastructures and purchase equipment necessary for the auspicious and efficient conduct of business. Better business environment would attract more investors that would result to improved economy which in turn generate more jobs for the towns residents. Employment would then give them more power to purchase goods and service, and as the cycle continued, it would favorably affect the municipality and its residents in general.Vice-Mayor Macayan also reported that contrary to claims, the municipalities of Las Pias and Paraaque have also aspired to become cities. Las Pinas had a cityhood bill pending at the House of Representatives, House Bill No. 125. Paranaque has likewise applied through House Bill No. 665. He, however, advised his colleagues against comparing these municipalities with Dasmarias because they have different geographical, political, and social conditions.The Vice Mayor also took SBM Hugo to task for the disparaging remarks in a news report regarding the cityhood of Dasmarias attributed to the latter. SBM Hugo owned up to the statement but he clarified that he made those remarks before the committee that was tasked to study the resolution was created. In reply, Vice-Mayor Macayan reminded his colleagues in the Sangguniang Bayan they were all afforded freedom of expression especially on the matters of public concerns, but emphasized to that they also have the responsibility to exercise prudence in giving out personal opinions.
Voting on the ResolutionOn September 28, 1995, during the 12th regular session of the Sangguniang Bayan, SBM Bernard Michael T. Bautista a cityhood proponent declared that it was time to approve the resolution and moved for it approval. He claimed that the resolution had already been sufficiently debated. The debates and documents presented in the council have categorically demonstrated the eligibility of Dasmarias for cityhood. The motion was seconded by SBMs Ilawan and Mendoza which immediately drew reactions from SBM Pablo Hugo and SBM Efren Aledia.
In a bid to delay its approval and subject the resolution to further scrutiny, they objected to the motion claiming that the committee was yet to submit its report clarifying urgent concerns that were brought up during past debates regarding cityhood. They did not, however, mention what these concerns were. To this, Vice-Mayor Macayan replied that the committee report has already been submitted, consolidated, and discussed during previous meetings. During that session, he continued, the benefits and adverse effects of cityhood based on the models of Muntinlupa and GMA were taken up and were satisfactorily addressed.
SBM Ilano for his part stated that there was already a consensus among members of the Sanggunian that the opinion of each member be solicited through a questionnaire. He added that in case of objections, a division of the house was then required in accordance with parliamentary procedure. He then moved for the division of the house on the resolution. Vice-Mayor Macayan seconded the motion and subsequently called for the division. Failing to stop the proceeding, SBM Hugo stood up and declared his intention to challenge the motion.
Thus despite oppositions, the historic vote took place that day. The Sangguniang Bayan members were asked whether or not they support Resolution No. 124-s-95. That resolution would pave the way for the conversion of their town into a city. The result of that voting showed five (5) members approving the proposal and none voting against it. The five councilors who cast affirmative votes were as follows; SB Members Bernard Michael T. Bautista, Hermenigildo S. Mendoza, Florence C. Castillo, SBM Montano A. Ilano, and SBM Ma. Irene C. Ilawan. Although the following did not vote in the negative, the following abstained, they were; SB Members Pablo P. Hugo, Teofilo B. Lara, Constancio M. Cantada, Ricardo G. Ortillano, and Efren N. Aledia.
Notes Onofre D. Corpuz, The Roots of the Filipino Nation, vol. 1, (Quezon City: Aklahi Foundation, c.1989), 80-81.
The Franciscans were credited for having first proposed this system to the regime. Ibid, 187.
Corpuz, The Roots of the Filipino Nation, vol. 1, 60.
Blair, Emma Helen, ed. (1911), The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803. 173-174;
History, Official Website of San Pedro, Laguna, http://sanpedrolaguna.gov.ph/history.html/accessed October 14, 2014.
History, Official Website of Tagaytay City, Retrieved on 2012-02-04. RA 10160 and RA 10161/accessed October 14, 2014.
Ibid
LCP Policy Blog. See, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cities_of_the_Philippines/accessed 28 September 2014.
Ibid
The only independent cities that can still participate in the election of provincial officials are the following: (a) Cities declared as highly urbanized between 1987 and 1992, whose charters allow their residents to vote and run for elective positions in the provincial government, and therefore allowed by Section 452-c of the Local Government Code to maintain these rights, and (b) Independent component cities whose charters only allow residents to only run for provincial offices. See, Local Government Code of 1991.
Unless otherwise indicated, this section was based on Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code which was enacted into law in 1991. The law specified the process of converting a municipality into a city. It was amended in 2001 by Republic Act No. 9009. See, Book III Local Government Units, Title III The City, Chapter 1 Role and Creation of a City, Section 449 Manner of Creation, http://www.chanrobles.com/localgov3.htm#.VGvmPRZX 2f8/accessed November 19, 2014.
Minutes of relevant Sangguniang Bayan session from 1995 were provided by Ms. Fe S. Javier who was the Secretary of the Sangguniang in 1995 and continues to serve in that capacity until the present Sangguniang Panlungsod; Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, Minutes of the 8th Regular Session (August 31, 1995), (photocopy), 2.
Judino Macayan, interview by Hannibal Carado, 14 June 2014.
III. MUNICIPALITIES: Average Annual Income 1st, P55M or more; 2nd P45M or more but less than P55M; 3rd P35M or more but less than P45M; 4th P25M or more but less than P35M; 5th P15M or more but less than P25M; 6th Below P15M. See, Department of Finance, Department Order No. 23-08 (July 29, 2008) by Margarito B. Teves, (photocopy), 3.
Before it became a city which entitled Dasmarias to its own legislative representation to the House of Representatives, it was part of the Second District of Cavite which included the municipalities of Dasmarias, Imus, General Mariano Alvarez, Carmona, General Trias, Tanza, and Trece Martires City. See, City of Dasmarias 2nd Founding Anniversary: A celebration of life, transformation and new beginnings, Philippine Star News (November 26, 2011), 10.
On March 1, 1995 Muntinlupa becomes the 65th city in the Philippines by virtue of Republic Act No. 7926. See, http://www.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/index.php?target=about¶ms=request_._resord#/accessed 6 October 2014.
Local Government Code of 1991
Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, Minutes of the 8th Regular Session (photocopy).
Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, Minutes of the 9th Regular Session (September 7, 1995), (photocopy), 7-9.
Ibid.
Cabides, The Integration of the Relocatees.
Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, Resolution No. 96-s-90 (August 22, 1990), (photocopy).
Municipal Treasurer, Mr. Bonifacio Sarroca, was an invited resource person during the 21st special session of the Dasmarias Sangguniang Bayan on August 22, 1990. Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, 9th Regular Session, Ibid, 9.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Cavite, Resolution No. 221-s-95 (June 19, 1995), (photocopy).
Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, 9th Regular Session, Ibid. 8-9.
Ibid. 9.
Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, Minutes of the 10th Regular Session (September 14, 1995), photocopy. 4-5.
Ibid.
On February 12, 1997, President Fidel V. Ramos signed the bill which elevated Las Pias from municipality into a city. A plebiscite held a month after approved the city status by its residents, and Las Pias became the 10th city of Metro Manila on March 26, 1997. See, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Pi%C3%B1as/accessed/August 21, 2014. Paraaque was converted as the 11th city in Metro Manila (after sister city Las Pias in 1997), and was chartered and urbanized by Former President Fidel V. Ramos during the celebration of the city's 426th Founding Anniversary. See, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Para%C3%B1aque/accessed/August 21, 2014.
Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, Minutes of the 12th Regular Session (September 28, 1995), photocopy.
Ibid.
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