Mabalacat now officially Pampanga's 3rd city

MABALACAT, Pampanga, Philippines – This 300-year-old town is now officially Pampanga’s third city, after Angeles and San Fernando.

Before midnight Saturday, the municipal board of canvassers made the declaration after a plebiscite earlier in the day showed 72 percent of those who cast their votes favored cityhood for their municipality.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) municipal chief Francisco David said only 19,447 or about 21 percent of this town’s 87,000 registered voters took part in the plebiscite.

He, however, said only a simple majority of those who cast their votes was needed for the cityhood move to take effect.

Of those who cast votes, 14,061 or 72 percent favored cityhood while 5,366 voted no. Twenty-three ballots were spoiled.

Mayor Marino Morales, who initiated the cityhood move, thanked his constituents for their support.

Last month, President Aquino signed Republic Act 10164 declaring Mabalacat a component city. Last Saturday’s plebiscite put the law into effect.

“Cityhood means that from P529 million annually, our internal revenue allotment would be increased to P900 million,” Morales said.

Morales assured his constituents though that cityhood would not lead to an increase in local taxes.

With a higher budget, Morales vowed to pursue projects such as the full rehabilitation of the public market, a “triple A” slaughterhouse, lighting of major roadways, construction of additional classrooms at the Mabalacat Community College, and a central business district.

“With this projected structures, Mabalacat will become the center of trade in Pampanga because it will play a major role in the development of the Clark International Airport. Also, more hotels will be built in Mabalacat to accommodate the influx of tourists,” said Morales.

Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. president Frankie Villanueva was elated, too, over Mabalacat’s cityhood, authored in the House of Representatives by first district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin.

“This is a great development for Mabalacat as it translates to much better service for Mabalaqueños, as the local government unit can enjoy higher share of the internal revenue allotment. This will also mean a more attractive venue for investors resulting in accelerated economic development,” Villanueva said.

For his part, Rene Romero of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said a “transparent, consultative management of the city with shared responsibilities with its different sectors” would further develop the new city.

“Businessmen see the potential of Mabalacat to become a thriving city as it is a gateway to the Clark Freeport and a crossroad for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the North Luzon Expressway,” he said.