Mayor of newly created city saddened by SC ruling
BACOLOD CITY -- Guihulngan, Negros Oriental Mayor Ernesto Reyes was saddened by the decision of the Supreme Court declaring 'unconstitutional' their town's cityhood together with 15 other new cities in the country.
Reyes said the 16 mayors of the newly created cities will act as one in filing a Motion for Reconsideration before the highest tribunal to retain their status.
"Guihulngan has to lose as it has already been functioning as a city," Reyes added.
His city functions as a city with Regional Trial Court as well as with City Schools Division Superintendent.
However, Reyes said he will abide with the latest decision; but they will try everything to convince the high court in keeping their cityhood status.
The city of Guihulngan had won an award as one of the most competitive small cities in the country this year by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM).
Meanwhile Mayor Salvador Escalante of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental is very happy after the SC decision came out favoring their cause.
Escalante justified that the League of Cities, of which he is a member, do not block the elevation of a certain municipality into city unless it follows the provisions of the Local Government Code citing the three criteria on income, land area and population.
"It is unfair for us who followed the requirements for cityhood," Escalante stressed.
The 54 million that has been reduced to their IRA will be additional services to Cadiznons if returned to city's coffers if the SC will declare the issue with finality.
Bacolod City Vice-Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, on the other hand, said although it is not yet final it is good news for the Bacoleños.
For almost two years now, the city suffered a cut in its Internal Revenue Allotment cut of P41.2 million.
Other cities in Negros Occidental like Bago, P40 million; Escalante, P26 million; Himamaylan, P30million; Kabankalan, P56 million; Sagay, P38 million; San Carlos City, P42.2 million; Silay, P35 million; Talisay, P27 million, and Sipalay, P50 million IRA cut while no records as far as Victorias and La Carlota.