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| OIC Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz awarded token to "Lolo Iking" as guest speaker of the event with members of the city council. |
Iligan City - On June 16, 2018 was the 68th year of
existence since Iligan became a chartered city. The celebration was held at the
public plaza freedom park here. City Councilor Ryan Ong in his message
said that Iligan history is a foundation of the youth and Iliganons that cannot
be forgotten owed respect to people who were instrumental in the creation
of Iligan City.
Mr. Salvador H. Ong fondly called “Lolo Iking”, the granfather of Councilor Ong, was the invited
Guest Speaker, the lone survivor and son of the late Mayor Benito Ong, the
first Mayor of Iligan City. “Lolo Iking” said the plan of the national government in
the 1950s was to make Iligan City the Industrial center of the southern
Philippines due to the presence of Agus power plant of the National power
corporation (NPC). During this time Muslims and Christians in Iligan were
united and live peacefully looking forward towards development.
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| at right, Councilor Ryan Ong and his "Lolo Iking" |
“Lolo Iking” said
that Iligan City is not only for the Iliganons but for all the people living in it. He
was apprehensive of the closures of the industries mentioning vested interest
to some of the previous local politicians. “Lolo Iking” added that Cagayan de Oro
was once part of Iligan City before but now it was one of the most develop industrial
cities in the country the so called the “city of friendship.” He said there is a need to unite the people for the development of Iligan City.
Vice Mayor now Officer-in-charge (OIC) Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz, assumed the office of the Mayor of Iligan City due to the
suspension of Mayor Celso Regencia for 90 days, in his message said it was the
time of President Elpidio Quirino, Iligan City became a chartered city on June
16, 1950 by virtue of the Republic Act (RA) 525 signed by President Elpidio
Quirino through House Bill 425 sponsored by the late congressman Ali Dimaporo.
President Quirino appointed Mayor Benito Ong as the first Mayor of Iligan City.
The first elected Mayor of Iligan City was the late congressman Mariano
Badelles.
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| Iligan City OIC Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz |
Iligan City was part of the history of the divided Lanao
provinces, Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, with significance to the efforts of
the then late congressman Ali Dimaporo, a Maranao and Muslim. There were six
Mayors served Iligan City since it became a city, with Mayor Camilo P. Cabili,
the son of Senator Tomas P. Cabili, served as mayor of Iligan City for 28
years.
Vera Cruz said the politics in Iligan city before was only
up to word confrontations but no use of physical and violence or court battles
to discredit the local administrations after elections, respecting the will of
the people’s decision. In recent years since 2013 the political landscape in
Iligan City was change, political oppositions are disrespectful to local
administration.
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| The singing dance troupe of Iligan City East Natl high Sch. |
Vera Cruz added the rise and fall of the economy of Iligan
City have many factors to consider affecting the situation such as global
economic crisis, political crisis among others. He said let the people decide for the right direction of the future of Iligan City. There should be unity among
the people of Iligan City leading into one direction and focus to real politics
to serve the people.
Vera Cruz urged his fellow local and government officials to
set aside the personal interest and carry the interest of the people. He said
there is no meaning of being a public servant if the focus is only for personal
interest. Indeed He said the present administration is committed to move heaven
and earth to let National Steel Corporation (NSC) will go back to its operation so that Iligan City will overcome crisis and the people will live in peace and prosperity in the near future. (News reports and photos by Jun Enriquez)
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