The official proclamation of Naga City in Camarines Sur as a highly urbanized city was made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and the historic elevation of status was announced to the public by Mayor Leni Robredo yesterday.
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The responsibility for formalizing such municipal advancements firmly falls under the purview of the national government, taking into consideration the stringent requirements evaluated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Following the formal declaration, the department ensures that the institutional transition of the independent component city would be thoroughly monitored.
Robredo made the announcement during the commemoration of the sixty-eighth birth anniversary of her late husband, former secretary Jesse Robredo, who served as Naga mayor prior to his appointment as head of the department in 2010. The solemn event underscored the local administration's painstaking efforts to compile all the necessary documentations and financial records to prove its institutional readiness.
Under the Local Government Code, explicit guidelines were established wherein cities must maintain a minimum population base and a massive annual income based on 1991 constant prices, i.e., strict economic benchmarks, if they are to successfully cope up with the rigorous demands of urbanization. Based on a city council resolution passed earlier this year, Naga readily fulfills these national mandates. The local council, which represents various community sectors and business stakeholders, have prioritized the recognition of the municipality's economic progress. Furthermore, official government reports indicate that from 2016 to 2026, its annual revenues have consistently surpassed the billion-peso mark.
The recent resolution formally initiated Naga’s bid for its declaration. Statements from the municipal hall indicated that the new administrative classification would result to greater political autonomy and a broader share of national revenues for the locality.
“The conferment of HUC status marks a historic chapter for Naga City, reflecting its sustained growth, its development and the enduring legacy of leadership that has shaped its governance,” the city government stated.
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