Ipil Readies Move for Cityhood

Ipil Councilor Ramses Troy D. Olegario has sponsored a resolution before the Sangguniang Bayan of Ipil during its July 20 regular session requesting the Office of Congresswoman Ann Hofer to sponsor a bill to convert Ipil into a city.

Situated at the crossroad of the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and the city of Zamboanga, Olegario stated that “this makes Ipil advantageous in its pursuit to become a self-sufficient locality and as the capital town of the province of Zamboanga Sibugay it has emerged as the new economic, academic and political center of Zamboanga Peninsula”.

“Ipil has been for a time ready to become a city”, Olegario said.

Ipil, was created as a municipality in July 26, 1949 by virtue of Executive Order No. 249 and was elevated to provincial capital town in a plebiscite made last 2001.

Basing on Ipil’s current status where a rise on the demand for government services including infrastructure and other social needs, the councillor said in his draft resolution that the most logical and viable option for the municipality to address the challenges is for Ipil to become a city.

Prior to the draft resolution, Olegario sponsored a draft ordinance creating the Ipil Cityhood Taskforce Council (ICTC) and its providing funds.

Declared in the ordinance is the policy of the municipality to support Ipil’s becoming a city and providing the funds necessary for the taskforce to be created to operate. This taskforce as stated in the ordinance will serve as a technical body under the office of the municipal mayor.

The taskforce will be composed of participants from accredited PO’s, NGO’s, the barangays and all other concerned offices and its powers, functions and responsibilities are elaborated in the said ordinance.

“Basically we need someone who knows how to do this and will look after the intensification of the municipality’s income collection because one of the requirements for Ipil to become a city is its income,” the councillor added.

When asked if the majority of the Sangguniang Bayan members are with him in his resolution, Olegario answered he is confident that everybody will approve on his move since the resolution has been referred to the committee on rules and is awaiting its second reading.

#RegionalandNationalNews