Pangasinan’s Natividad now a fourth-class town

NATIVIDAD, Pangasinan — After being a "cellar dweller" for decades, this eastern Pangasinan town has made a dramatic leap to become a fourth-class municipality.

Mayor Alejandrea Nadonza-Supnet reported the town’s new status during their just concluded fiesta celebration.

Supnet extolled the local residents as well as the balikbayans and overseas workers for their significant contributions to the town’s progress.

During the annual festivities, the municipal government, led by Supnet and Vice Mayor Manuelito Noveda, presented certificates of recognition to families who have considerably helped in Natividad’s transformation.

Records of the Department of Finance-Bureau of Local Government Finance (DOF-BLGF) showed that Natividad is one of a number of Pangasinan towns which have been reclassified due to the increase in their annual incomes.

A first-class municipality has an average annual income of P50 million or more; second class, P40 million or more but less than P50 million; third class, P30 million or more but less than P40 million; fifth class, P10 million or more but less than P30 million; and sixth class, below P10 million.

The DOF-BLGF report, released last December, showed that from 2000 to 2003, Natividad had an average annual income of P22.254 million.

In the decades preceding 2000, Natividad had been a sixth-class municipality.

The reclassification took place during Supnet’s first term as mayor. A former high school teacher, she served as vice mayor for one term before she was elected mayor.

Now on her second term, Supnet expressed optimism that Natividad could become a third-class municipality in the near future.

Supnet attributed Natividad’s progress to the support of the townsfolk as well as the balikbayans and overseas workers for her "Move on Natividad" campaign.

For instance, in 2001, Natividad was adjudged as the top real property tax collector in the entire province.

The provincial treasurer’s office, in a letter to Supnet, praised Natividad for the feat.

Provincial treasurer Ramon Crisostomo cited the efforts of municipal treasurer Augusto Rivera in the efficient collection of real property taxes and the support given by Supnet and Gov. Victor Agbayani.

When she became mayor in 2001, Supnet initiated an intensive real property tax collection drive to improve the town’s financial position, thus generating additional income for more development projects.

The report of DOF-BLGF executive director Ma. Presentacion Montesa also bared the reclassification of other Pangasinan towns.

From 2000 to 2003, the province had four first-class towns: the capital town of Lingayen, with an income of P7.222 million; Bayambang, P59.237 million; Mangaldan, P65.139 million; and Malasiqui, P67.164 million.

Five towns were rated as second class: Rosales, Mangatarem, San Manuel, Umingan, and Villasis.

The third-class towns are Aguilar, Asingan, Bani, Bolinao, Bugallon, San Nicolas, Tayug, and Urbiztondo.

The fourth-class municipalities are Natividad, Agno, Alcala, Anda, Balungao, Basista, Bautista, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, Labrador, Mabini, San Quintin, and Sta. Maria.

The lone fifth-class municipality is Sto. Tomas.

Not mentioned in the DOF-BLGF report are the towns of Binalonan, Binmaley, Calasiao, Laoac, Manaoag, Mapandan, Pozorrubio, San Fabian, San Jacinto, Sta. Barbara, and Sual.

Pangasinan has four cities, namely Dagupan, San Carlos, Urdaneta, and Alaminos.