By Charissa Luci-Atienza
South Cotabato 1st district Rep. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles has batted for the passage of a bill declaring June 15 of every year as a special non-working holiday in the City of General Santos in commemoration of its City Charter anniversary.
South Cotabato 1st district Rep. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles
(PIA / MANILA BULLETIN) She said that Republic Act No. 5412 or the Charter of the City of General Santos is one of recognizes the aspiration of the people of the city "for a better life by pursuing progress through perseverance”—a vision passed down by Paulino T. Santos Sr., the city’s visionary namesake, to the current generation. RA 5412 converted the municipality of General Santos in the province of South Cotabato into the independent city of General Santos. It took effect on June 15. “The city charter undeniably ignited the community’s remarkable development by leaps and bounds and woke up this once sleepy town known as Dadiangas into the Boom City of the South,” Bañas-Nograles said in her bill’s explanatory note. “As a city, it ought to commemorate that day of transformation to reflect on the decades of dedication that made the City of General Santos into what it is today,” she said. Bañas-Nograles said the high-urbanised city is now a home to a more than half a million people, and is a leading agro-industrial hub in Region XII. “It stands as one of the most competitive cities in the country, ranking eight in Mindanao in 2018, on its 50th year of being,” she said. Under HB 6697, June 15 of every year is declared a special nonworking holiday in the City of General Santos City in commemoration of its city charter anniversary. The proposed Act shall take effect 15 days after the publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
South Cotabato 1st district Rep. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles(PIA / MANILA BULLETIN) She said that Republic Act No. 5412 or the Charter of the City of General Santos is one of recognizes the aspiration of the people of the city "for a better life by pursuing progress through perseverance”—a vision passed down by Paulino T. Santos Sr., the city’s visionary namesake, to the current generation. RA 5412 converted the municipality of General Santos in the province of South Cotabato into the independent city of General Santos. It took effect on June 15. “The city charter undeniably ignited the community’s remarkable development by leaps and bounds and woke up this once sleepy town known as Dadiangas into the Boom City of the South,” Bañas-Nograles said in her bill’s explanatory note. “As a city, it ought to commemorate that day of transformation to reflect on the decades of dedication that made the City of General Santos into what it is today,” she said. Bañas-Nograles said the high-urbanised city is now a home to a more than half a million people, and is a leading agro-industrial hub in Region XII. “It stands as one of the most competitive cities in the country, ranking eight in Mindanao in 2018, on its 50th year of being,” she said. Under HB 6697, June 15 of every year is declared a special nonworking holiday in the City of General Santos City in commemoration of its city charter anniversary. The proposed Act shall take effect 15 days after the publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.