Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia (right) welcomes President Rodrigo Duterte during the highlights of the 39th MassKara Festival at the Bacolod Public Plaza last October -- the third time the Chief Executive graced the world-renowned festival since 2016. (File photo from Bacolod City PIO)
BACOLOD CITY -- Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he considers President Rodrigo Duterte’s signing of the law declaring June 18 as the city’s Charter Day as the Chief Executive’s “best gift” to Bacolod on its 80th year.
“This is the best gift the President could have possibly given to us during the birthday of Bacolod,” the mayor said on Thursday afternoon, a day after he received the confirmation from the Malacañang Records Office that Duterte has signed Republic Act 11146 declaring June 18, 1938 as the day Bacolod was created.
The new law corrected Republic Act 7724 that initially set October 19 as the date for the celebration of the Bacolod City Charter Day. This means that beginning next year, Bacolod will mark its Charter Day every June 18 as a special non-working holiday while Oct. 19 will no longer be considered as such.
Although no longer a holiday, Oct. 19 will still be commemorated as the inauguration day of the City of Bacolod as provided in RA 11146. Leonardia said Duterte, being the signatory of the new Charter Day law, has become part of the history of the city.
“We thank him for being instrumental in correcting the history of Bacolod. The President will now be part and parcel of the history books of Bacolod City,” the mayor said.
“This is one of the highlights of the 80th year celebration of Bacolod. History is now in its proper place,” he added.
Leonardia also noted the President’s three consecutive visits to Bacolod during the MassKara Festival every October since being elected to the country’s highest office in 2016. “He came to Bacolod three times straight, which is unheard of in other places. I believe that Bacolod has a special place in the heart of President Rodrigo Duterte,” the mayor added. (PNA)
