Frasco pushing for Liloan cityhood

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu Fifth District Congressman Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco is pushing for the cityhood of his home municipality of Liloan.

Earlier this week, Frasco has filed at the House of Representatives Bill No. 5031 that pushes for the conversion of Liloan into a component city of the Province of Cebu.

For a municipality to be converted into a component city, it must first meet the requirement of an annual income of P100 million and a total population of 150,000.

As of the latest data in 2018, Liloan has earned an annual total revenue of P103 million.  Liloan’s population as of the 2015 Official Census of Populations and Households is 118,753 and according to the House Bill, it is projected to rise to 155,838 by the year 2020 with a recorded 3.6% growth rate.

Frasco said in the resolution that the upgrading of Liloan’s status is necessary for its LGU’s capacity-building.

“This conversion of Liloan from a municipality to a component city cannot be any more delayed because such conversion will greatly boost the capacity of the local government unit to address and to respond to the increasing needs and demands of its constituents, investors and other visitors amid ever changing economic and political landscapes,” Frasco wrote on the bill.

He added that the upgrading would open many opportunities for Liloan to grow economically.

“Cityhood will undoubtedly open the floodgates of a multitude of economic opportunities for the people of Liloan, which will ultimately redound to the improvement of the delivery of services, but most of all, to the betterment of the quality of life of the people of Liloan and those living in its neighbouring communities,” Frasco added.

Just last week, Frasco’s wife, Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, has received an award for Liloan bagging the Top Model Municipality in the Philippines 2019 title.

Liloan, at the same time, was also declared Manila Times’ Model Municipality for Education, for Revenue Generation and Business Friendliness and Care for the Elderly.

Franco had served as Liloan mayor for nine years prior to his current stint in Philippine Congress.

At present, the bill is yet to be approved by the House of Representatives. — GAN (FREEMAN)