By Nanette Guadalquiver- PNA
BACOLOD CITY — Starting next year, this city’s Charter Day will be observed every June 18 as a special non-working holiday.
This was made official after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11146 declaring June 18, 1938 as the day Bacolod was born.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia received the confirmation on Wednesday, in a letter dated Dec. 5 sent by Concepcion Zeny Ferrolino-Enad, director of the Malacañang Records Office, stating she is furnishing the mayor a certified copy of RA 11146 approved by the President last November 9.
“After 80 years, we will now have our history in proper order,” the mayor said in a statement.
The new law corrected RA 7724 that initially set Oct. 19 as the date for the celebration of the Bacolod City Charter Day.
Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya filed House of Representatives Bill No. 7044 to correct RA 7724 after it was found out that the City’s Charter was actually signed by then President Manuel L. Quezon on June 18, 1938 and approved in effect Commonwealth Act 326 that created the City of Bacolod.
On the other hand, Oct. 19 was the inauguration of the first city officials, which was attended by Quezon in Bacolod.
Leonardia thanked Gasataya for pursuing the bill as he stressed that once and for all, the new law corrects the erroneous date of Bacolod’s Charter Day celebration.
RA 11146 also provides that the inauguration of the City of Bacolod shall be commemorated every Oct. 19, and that the highlights of the MassKara Festival shall be held on the fourth Sunday of October.
Earlier, the mayor said the city government gives due recognition to Oct. 19 as the day the city officials were inaugurated. He, however, noted that Bacolod must distinguish which day the city was created and which day it was inaugurated.
The birthday and creation is the day Quezon signed and approved Commonwealth Act 326, Leonardia added.
