Itogon, Benguet poised to be Third City in Cordillera

Itogon, Benguet – Cordillera may soon have its third city next to Baguio and Tabuk. This is if the Philippine congress approves the measure for the cityhood of Itogon.

In the 18th Congress, Benguet lawmaker Eric Go Yap filed a bill for the conversion of the province’s largest municipality into city but the minimum requirement of having 100,000 square kilometers remains to be a struggle.

“Ang naging problema ko lang po sa La Trinidad nung fi-nile natin to nung 18th Congress…may problema lang sa lupa. Siyempre po pagdating po sa lupa, mahirap po madagdagan sa lupa unless may magbigay na katabing munisipyo,” Yap stated in his interview with a local radio station.

In April 2022, Republic Act 11683 lapsed into law, amending Section 450 of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.

The law makes it easier for a municipality to become a city as it exempts applicants from the land and population requirements if it generates at least P100 million for two consecutive years.

With the development, the Benguet lawmaker is confident that the required annual income is achievable, giving hope to the people of Benguet to have their first city.

Why convert municipality into city?

According to the senate, municipalities aspire for cityhood mainly for the effectual changes in their fiscal status.

Likewise, political payoffs have motivated the establishment of new cities.

Yap said the measure is among the priority bills that he is set to file in the 19th Congress.

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