CHAPTER 2

Charting the Course: 1989-1997

From Reducciones to Pueblos
When the Spaniards decided to permanently stay
they organized the natives pre-colonial settlements
into encomiendas. An encomienda was a grant given
to a Spanish adventurer, called the encomendero, to
administratively
supervise
a
community
of
conquered natives. As the encomendero the Spanish
adventurer was required to provide temporal benefits
to the people of the community and see to it that
they received instructions in the Catholic faith. In
return for these, the encomendero was entitled to
collect tributes, exploit the labor, and impose quotas
on the produce of the people assigned to him.1
In implementing the encomienda system, the
Spaniards authorities, however, were confronted with
the difficulty of finding the natives for collection of
tribute, organization of labor gangs and religious
instructions because pre-colonial natives lived in
scattered and independent settlements. In order to
be able to firmly manage them, the people of the
conquered villages have to be resettled. This was
accomplished
either
through
persuasion
or
intimidation.
From their ancient settlement sites the natives
were moved to larger grouping called reducciones.
These reducciones were organized around a newlybuilt church, a convento where a resident friar lived,
a civic building, and a large quadrilateral square
called the plaza mayor around which were homes of
prominent Spaniards and indios.

pg. 1

The people, from then on, had to live their new

lives in the new colonial communities that were
designed for them by the regime. The reducciones
where the natives were initially resettled were later
on transformed into pueblos. In time, the pueblos
and their component barangays became the local
government units. By 1898 these pueblo were firmly
established as a local government institution and
became the modern municipality or Philippine town.2
Establishing a Philippine City
The first city in the country, the City of Manila,
was established by the Spaniards on June 3, 1571,
making it the oldest on record. It was not a city as
cities are known today. It was a just a chartered
municipal corporation whose membership is limited
to Spaniards. Unlike the native barangays whose
membership is inherent in family or kinship,
citizenship in the newly-installed city is by formal
adherence or enrollment. It was not a city by todays
standards because it was not considered part of a
local government unit consisting of more urbanized
and developed barangays and did not serve as a
general-purpose government for the coordination
and delivery of basic, regular, and direct services and
effective governance of the inhabitants within its
territorial jurisdiction.3
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first Spanish
Governor-General of the colony, was the one who
gave the title city to Manila. King Philip II of Spain
certified Legazpis declaration a little over a year
later on June 19, 1572. He also awarded the city a
coat of arms and declared it as a Ciudad Insigne y
Siempre Leal, (Distinguished and Ever Loyal City).
When the Americans came later, they drafted the
new charter for Manila in June 1901.4
pg. 2

There are, at present, a total of 143 cities in the

country. San Pedro in Laguna is the newest
municipality to be converted into a city. Known as
Lagunas Gateway, San Pedro is in the boundary
between Laguna and Metro Manila. It also shares
boundary with the City of Dasmarias. San Pedros
charter was ratified by the qualified voters among its
residents on December 28, 2013.5
The province of Cavite has five cities, namely;
Tagaytay, Cavite City, Trece Martirez, Dasmarias,
Imus, and Bacoor. The oldest among these is the City
of Tagaytay which became a chartered city on
January 21, 1938. Cavite Representative Justiniano
Montano of Cavite was the one who authored the bill
for its charter. It was passed as Commonwealth Act
no. 338 and signed by President Manuel L. Quezon.
Imus and Bacoor are the newest cities in the
province. Their charters were ratified by their
respective residents on April 10, 2012 and April 11,
2012 respectively.6
Not all cities were created equal; however, they all
exist as corporate and administrative entities
because of their own specific charters which in
addition to the provisions of the Local Government
Code of 1991 specify the citys administrative
structure and powers. Some municipalities were
converted into cities because of their advantageous
or strategic locations. Angeles City in Pampanga was
chartered on January 1, 1964 because it was
strategically located to host the former United Stated
Clark Air Force Base. The City of Baguio for its part
was converted into a city on September 1, 1909
because the Americans it as a place for rest and
recreation. Since then, the city earned the
distinction of being the Summer Capital of the
country. Olongapo City in Subic became a city on
June 1, 1966. Like Angeles City in Pampanga,
pg. 3

Olongapo City hosted the former United States Naval

Base. Tagaytays charter was ratified on January 21,
1938 because of its location as convenient
alternative to Baguio City as the Summer Capital of
the country.7
Other cities were created in order to establish new
government centers in otherwise sparsely populated
areas, as in the cases of Palayan in Isabela, Trece
Martirez the capital of Cavite, and Quezon City. Some
Philippine cities were incorporated to provide a form
of localized civil government to an area that is
primarily urban. These localities cannot be handled
more efficiently by more rural-oriented provincial and
municipal governments due to their compact nature
and different demography and local economy.
Some cities with huge expanses of rural or
wilderness areas and considerable non-urban
populations, such as, Calbayog, Davao, Puerto
Princesa,
and
Zamboanga
were
deliberately
incorporated into cities with increased future
resource needs and urban expansion, as well as
strategic considerations, in mind.8
Municipalities aspire for cityhood because it is to
their best interest. The most important motivation for
cityhood is the increase in the share of the Internal
Revenue Allotment (IRA) upon conversion despite the
differences in the powers and regardless of status.
This will significantly raise the citys financial
capabilities. Moreover, they are also allowed to pass
ordinances to declare those taxes, fees, charges, and
other impositions which were previously levied and
collected by the Provincial Government to be
collected by and for the city. These taxes may be
levied from persons, properties, businesses, acts,
and other matters within its jurisdiction, the list of
these taxes, fees, and other impositions may include:
tax on real properties; tax on transfer of real property
pg. 4

ownership; tax on the business of printing and

publication;
franchise
tax;
professional
tax;
amusement tax; annual fixed tax for every delivery
truck or van of manufacturers or producers,
wholesalers of, dealers, or retailers in, certain
products; tax on sand, gravel, and other quarry
resources; groundwater extraction tax; golfers
environmental fees; Secretarys fees; and Mayors
permit fees.9
Depending on the category, cities enjoy the
additional incentive of being generally more
autonomous than regular municipalities. A highly
urbanized and independent city for example is no
longer administratively supervised by the provincial
government. This means that the ordinances enacted
by the citys Sangguniang Panlungsod are no longer
subject to review by the provinces Sangguniang
Panlalawigan. The Provincial Governor and the
provincial
government
will
no
longer
have
administrative authority over the citys elected
officials. This, however, does not preclude their
cooperation on matters of common interest. Its
residents could no longer vote nor be voted into any
provincial elective office, such as, the position of
Provincial Governor, Provincial Vice-Governor, and
Provincial Board Members. In addition, highly
urbanized and independent cities no longer share tax
revenues with any province.10
At present there are thirty five (35) highly
urbanized cities all over the Philippines; sixteen of
these are in Metro Manila. To qualify as a highly
urbanized city, it is required that a candidate city or
municipality has a minimum population of 200,000
inhabitants as certified by the National Statistics
Office (NSO). The income requirement is at least
P500 million based on 2008 constant prices, as
certified by the City or Municipal Treasurer. For an
pg. 5

independent city classification the requirements are

the minimum population of 150,000 residents and
the annual income of at least P350 million pesos,
also based on 2008 constant prices, as certified by
the City or Municipal Treasurer.
The city charter is a piece of congressional
legislation that confers on a city certain powers that
a regular municipality or even other cities may not
have. A city cannot exist without it. The bill that
converts a municipality into a city originates from the
Philippine Congress, either from the Senate or the
House of Representatives. Once approved by both
the upper and the lower houses, the President of the
Philippines signs it into law.
Dasmarias and the Local Government Code of
1991
Dasmarineos knew early on that their town was
destined to become a city because of the
developments and progress that took place in the
municipality. In order to determine whether or not it
was eligible for cityhood at that time municipal
officials have to consult Republic Act No. 7160, also
known as the Local Government Code of 1991.
Authored by then Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., R.A.
No. 7160 is the governing law on local government. It
establishes the governmental system and powers of
provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays in the
Philippines. It is also empowers these local
governments units to enact local tax measures,
including real property taxes and further assures
them a share in the national internal revenue. The
law stipulates that only an Act of Congress, a
congressional legislation, may convert a municipality
or a cluster of barangays into a city.
For the purpose of Dasmarias, the most relevant
portion of R.A. No. 7160 is Book III entitled Local
pg. 6

Government Units, in particular Title III The City.

Chapter one of that title discusses the role of a city
and talk about the manner of its creation. This is the
part, Section 450 Requisites for Creation, that
would determine the eligibility of the Municipality of
Dasmarias. It has to comply with the average
annual income for two consecutive years (P20 million
based on 1991 constant prices), and the territorial
area (100 square kilometers) or population (150,000
residents) requirement specified in that chapter. The
average annual income requirement was later
revised to P100 million, based on the 2000 constant
prices, by Republic Act No. 9009 which was approved
on February 4, 2001.11
The Municipal 10-Year Development Plan of
1989
During the initial research for this book some
important facts were clarified regarding the real
beginning of the project to convert Dasmarias into a
city. Various write ups including the official website of
the city mention February 11, 1997 which was
actually the date when former Congressman Dragon
filed House Bill No. 8963. Further research on the
matter confirmed that this was not the case. Records
obtained from the Office of the Secretary of the
Sangguniang Panlungsod positively point to August
31, 1995 as the date when the move to convert
Dasmarias into a city was officially launched. On
that date, during the 18th Regular Session of the
Sangguniang
Bayan,
then
Vice-Mayor
Judino
Macayan turned over the chair as presiding officer of
the municipal council to SB Member Bernard Michael
Bautista so that he can introduce, join in the debate,
and defend the resolution to convert Dasmarias into
a city.12 In view of this crucial piece of information, an
pg. 7

interview was requested and was promptly accepted

by former Vice Mayor Dino Macayan.
Dino Macayan is presently serving as the
livelihood consultant of the City of Dasmarias. He
holds the distinction of being the first non-native of
Dasmarias who was elected as the towns vicemayor. During the interview he narrated that his
family came in 1973 with the group of settlers from
Manila who made a home in the Dasmarias Bagong
Bayan. His entrance into politics in 1983 was via the
Kabataang Barangay, who as the chairman of the
youth federation for the whole municipality of
Dasmarias entitled him to a seat in the
Sangguniang Bayan. When Atty. Pidi Barzaga was
appointed as the towns OIC-Mayor in 1986, he was
retained in the municipal council.13
Because of his exposure and experience in the
Sanggunian, Dino Macayan was readily elected
municipal councilor and became a regular member
during the local elections in 1988. He was then
promptly appointed by the winner in the mayoralty
race, Mayor Recto Cantimbuhan, as the chairman of
the Sanggunian Committee on Budget. In 1989
Mayor Cantimbuhan created a committee and
assigned it with the tasked of drafting a ten-year
development plan for municipality. As the chairman
of the Sanggunian Committee on Budget, SB Member
Dino Macayan was appointed member of that
committee.
After having thoroughly researched and discussed
the essentials on the economic, social and political
data on the town, the committee drafted a plan that
covered the ten-year period from 1990 to 2000. In
addition to the provisions which aimed for the total
development of the municipality, it also provided for
the conversion of Dasmarias into a city at the end
of said ten-year period. In view of this, a strategy was
pg. 8

worked out which was hinged on the reclassification

of the municipality from its present fourth class to
first class category. This would involve requesting the
Department of Finance for the reclassification every
three years. So if everything went according to the
plan, the town would have been reclassified to third
class in 1993, second class in 1996, and a first class
municipality by the year 1999. By then Dasmarias
would be eligible to apply for cityhood which the
committee optimistically expected would be attained
by 2000.14
When the 1995 election came, SB Member
Macayan ran for the position of the Vice-Mayor and
won. As the Vice Mayor, the review of the status of
the ten-year development plan which he earlier
helped formulate six years before became part of his
responsibilities. During such review, it was
determined that the projections put together by the
committee in 1989 were realized ahead of the
deadlines set in the plan. During the intervening
years, they discovered that the municipality
experienced its most rapid growth and progress. The
towns average annual which was over P55 million,
reached the P86 million by 1997, and was projected
to breach P120 million in the coming years. Its
population steadily grew to 262,406 that year. For
Vice-Mayor Macayan it was a happy result because it
would mean that the planned conversion of
Dasmarias into a city could be realized ahead of
schedule.
Vice Mayor Macayan first broached the subject of
cityhood to Mayor Recto Cantimbuhan. Already in his
third term as the municipal mayor and was therefore
disqualified for a fourth term, Mayor Cantimbuhan
was initially lukewarm to the idea. He, however,
relented and became one of its staunch supporters
after having been appraised of the benefits of
pg. 9

cityhood to the municipality and its residents. With

this, he gave his support and approval for Vice Mayor
Macayan to proceed with the project.
The vice mayor then sought an audience with
Congressman Renato Dragon who was then the
representative of the Second District of Cavite. The
purpose of that meeting was to secure Congressman
Dragons support by sponsoring a cityhood bill in the
House of Representatives as required by the Local
Government Code of 1991. Congressman Dragon,
according to Vice Mayor Macayan, readily agreed to
author said bill.15
Dasmarias in 1995 has, without doubt, complied
with
the
income,
territory,
and
population
requirements set by the Local Government Code of
1991 for cityhood. Vice Mayor Macayan knew that
documents certifying these data could easily be
obtained from relevant government agencies. But
the process of converting a municipality into a city,
he was aware, was complicated by the fact that they
have to first pass by his colleagues in the
Sangguniang Bayan, then in the House of
Representatives and the Senate, and finally pass the
muster of the town residents during the plebiscite if
it came to that stage.
Convincing his colleagues in the Sangguniang
Bayan was Vice-Mayor Macayans first and most
important challenge. Persuading them to support the
project
was
a
challenging
prospect
which
necessitated him to convincingly respond to all
oppositions that his colleagues would throw at him
when the proposal was finally presented for
consideration in the municipal council. With this
awareness, Vice Mayor Macayan prepared himself for
the daunting task ahead by doing research work and
consulted people who were knowledgeable of the
cityhood process. One of these resource people was
pg. 10

Atty. Jaime Fresnedi of the City of Muntinlupa. From

Atty. Fresnedi he was able to secure a copy of
Muntinlupas city charter which was later used as the
guide for Dasmarias.16
Hurdling the First Challenge
The Local Government Code of 1991 is very
specific in its instruction that only an act of
congress can create a city. 17 It means that cityhood
must be legislated, i.e., it has to undergo, in the
Philippine Congress, the process of making a bill into
a law. Usually it begins in the House of
Representatives where a congressman may initiate
the filing of a bill for this purpose. Sometimes the
initiative may originate from the Sangguniang Bayan
of that municipality by passing a resolution to
requesting the legislative representative of the
district to which that municipality belongs to sponsor
a bill seeking cityhood and then they lobby for its
passage. This was how the project to convert the
Municipality of Dasmarias into a city officially began
in 1995.
When Vice-Mayor Macayan had finally determined
the eligibility of Dasmarias for cityhood, he set the
process in motion on August 31, 1995 during the 8 th
regular session of the Sangguniang Bayan of
Dasmarias by sponsoring a resolution to request
Congressman Renato Dragon to sponsor a cityhood
bill for Dasmarias in the House of Representatives.
He opened his presentation with the indisputable
assertion that the municipality was experiencing
rapid changes and continuing development. He then
directed the councils attention to the goals set by
the 1989 Comprehensive Development Plan of the
municipality. He claimed that these goals which were
set to be achieved in 2000 have already been met.
pg. 11

In view of this, he argued, the municipality was

ready to move to the next level of development as
stated in the 1989 Comprehensive Development
Plan. He then urged his colleagues in the
Sangguniang Bayan to seriously consider the
conversion of Dasmarias into a city claiming that it
more than qualified for that status because of its
population of 120,000 and average annual income of
P70 million pesos were way beyond the requirements
of the Local Government Code of 1991. These were
even higher than those of Cavite City which had an
annual income of P58 million pesos and a population
of only 15,000 residents, or those of Tagaytay City
that had an annual income of P67 million pesos. ViceMayor Macayan believed that comparing Dasmarias
with these cities would stress the fact that
Dasmarias, with its higher income and bigger
population would qualify and would be subsequently
converted easily into a city. 18 With cityhood, he
continued, Dasmarias would be entitled to an
increased share in the Internal Revenue Allocation
(IRA). This would mean additional income which will
in turn provide Dasmarias the added financial
resources for the construction of the necessary
infrastructures, the purchase of much-needed
equipment, and for the enhanced delivery of basic
social services. This, he said would redound to more
efficient and better services attracting more
investors into making Dasmarias as the place of
choice for their investments.19
According to the Vice Mayor, cityhood for
Dasmarias can no longer wait nor can it be denied.
He, however, cautioned his colleagues that in
considering cityhood, they should also take into
account the irreversible effects it would have on the
municipality and its residents for there will be price
to pay. In closing, he enjoined them to ponder on
these effects as they deliberate on the resolution.
pg. 12

Vice Mayor Macayans opening statement drew

immediate reaction from his colleagues. It must be
noted, however, that nobody reacted to express
opposition to the plan of converting Dasmarias into
a city. Everyone appeared to know that cityhood
would do more good for the municipality than bad.
And since it was the first time that the subject was
broached in the council, most members have no idea
as to how ordinary Dasmarineos would react to it. In
view of this most oppositors contented themselves
with questioning the necessity for the resolution at
that time. They pointed out that there is need to
further study the proposal because as Vice Mayor
Macayan
stressed,
there
would
be
serious
consequences. The alleged increase in the rate in the
residential and commercial taxes for instance will
seriously affect taxpayers of the municipality. This
matter was brought up by the author and sponsor
proponent of the resolution himself. They also raised
the question regarding the effects of cityhood on the
pending resolution that sought to separate
Dasmarias Bagong Bayan (DBB) from the
municipality of Dasmarias. In the light of this, they
wanted to know how this would be resolved and
which resolution would be the Sangguniang Bayan
resolve first.
Oppositions to Cityhood
SBM Constancio A. Cantada raised the point and
called the councils attention to the pending
resolution
which
sought
the
separation
of
Dasmarias Bagong Bayan (DBB) and its conversion
into a separate and independent municipality. SBM
Pablo P. Hugo echoed this concern and asked which
resolution the Sanggunian should pursue first; the
one which sought the separation of the DBB or the
one which endorsed the cityhood of Dasmarias.
SBM Teofilo B. Lara for his part rightly remarked that
pg. 13

the implications of cityhood to the separation of DBB

must be taken into consideration emphasizing that
both should be thoroughly studied because during
that time a sizeable portion of the 262,406 residents
of Dasmarias lived in the DBB.20
The Motion to Separate the Dasmarias Bagong
Bayan
The establishment of the Dasmarias Bagong
Bayan could be traced back in 1961 when the
Peoples Home Site and Housing Corporation
acquired a 234-hectare land in the municipality. It
was developed in 1971 by the Presidential Assistant
on Housing and Resettlement Agency which gave
birth to the Dasmarias Resettlement Area. When
former President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed
Executive Order No. 419 forming the Task Force on
Human Settlement on September 19, 1973, he
designated the Dasmarias Resettlement Area as the
ideal location for the countrys pilot model for viable
human resettlement. His Letter of Instruction No. 19
in 1975 squatters that lived along the creeks,
riverbanks and railway tracks of Paco, Pandacan, Sta.
Ana, and the fringes of Fort Bonifacio in Makati were
relocated to Dasmarias. Some of these settlers that
were brought to Dasmarias were also squatters in
private and government land in Tondo, Paraaque,
and Quezon City.
The municipality of Dasmarias was chosen to
house the resettlement due to its accessibility to
Metro Manila and other important destinations in the
provinces of Cavite and Laguna. The site was a 234hectare area that was owned by the Philippine
Homesite Housing Corporation (PHHC) having bought
it in 1961 for a total amount P2.4 million. Later on it
was expanded to accommodate more settlers that by
December of 2000, the National Housing Authority
pg. 14

(NHA) reported that the total land area of

Dasmarias Bagong Bayan was 523.24 hectares with
a total project cost of P281 million.
Upon their resettlement, each family of settlers
was given a lot with an area of 90-200 square meters
which they loaned from the National Housing
Authority (NHA). In no time, the resettlement area
population
grew.
This
event
prompted
the
Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias to pass on
September 12, 1990, Order No. 108-90, a municipal
ordinance which, with the approval of the National
Housing Authority (NHA), directed the division of DBB
into forty seven barangays. Ten years later in 2000,
the National Housing Authority reported that they
have documented a total of 22,428 households living
in the resettlement area with a population of
148,137.
Today, the Dasmarias Bagong Bayan is ranked as
the biggest resettlement area in the country. It is also
the most successful resettlement site that was
established by the government. Its original settlers
have successfully integrated themselves into the
community and partook of the opportunities
Dasmarias has to offer.21 The burgeoning population
in the area had caused the lining of its main
thoroughfare, the Congressional South Avenue, with
numerous
schools
and
various
business
establishments. No less than the giant SM Prime
Holdings had invested in the area by building the SM
Marketmall, a wet-and-dry market, in the place of the
old Kadiwa Market. By offering goods at cheaper
prices, the establishment serves as an alternative
market for the municipality. Moreover, schools such
as the Dasmarias Elementary School and the
Dasmarias National High School are located in the
vicinity of the market. Even reputable educational
institutions such as the De La Salle University and
pg. 15

the Emilio Aguinaldo College have put up branches in

the area. This is a testament to towns growing
student population. Even the number of subdivisions
which catered to migrants from Metro Manila and
other parts of the country increased. Villages like the
Windward Hills provide convenient and affordable
boarding houses for non-Dasmarineo students
studying in nearby colleges and universities.
More than two decades ago, however, the
Dasmarias
Bagong
Bayan
campaigned
for
separation from the municipality of Dasmarias. The
main reason for the campaign was its burgeoning
population which has surpassed that of the old town
of Dasmarias. On August 22, 1990, the move to
separate the DBB was officially presented to the
Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias through a
resolution which aimed to request then Congressman
Renato Dragon to conduct a study on the possibility
of creating a new town in the Municipality of
Dasmarias, Cavite.22 Interestingly, it was also ViceMayor Judino Macayan, then a Sangguniang Bayan
member, who spearheaded the campaign and
presented the resolution during the 21st special
meeting of the municipal council.
The initial objective of the campaign was to
determine whether or not the DBB would qualify for
township in accordance with the requirements set by
the Local Government Code of 1991. This was
because during the debates on the matter, the
resolution met some opposition from the Municipal
Treasurer himself who expressed an opinion that DBB
is not yet in the position to be created as a separate
town considering the fundings [sic] thereof.23 He
stressed that this was the primary consideration in
accordance with the Local Government Code. In
order to address this concern, an additional provision
of the resolution passed requested Congressman
pg. 16

Dragon to study the possibility of separating the

relocation center and create a new municipality if his
inquiry confirmed that DBB met these pre-requisites.
The resolution was approved accordingly by the
Sanggunian on that same day. Mayor Recto
Cantimbuhan signed the first endorsement on eight
days later on August 30, 1990. Records from the
office of the Secretary of the Sangguniang
Panlungsod indicate that it was received by the office
of Congressman Dragon on September 3, 1990.
Two years after it was first officially introduced to
the Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, the
campaign to convert DBB into a municipality was
again presented to the body by SB Judino Macayan
on August 28, 1992. Despite opposition from SBM
Montano A. Ilano who would like further discussions
on the topic, the Sangguniang Bayan passed
Resolution No. 92-s-92 on that day. Voting in favor of
its approval were SBMs Judino Macayan, Constancio
M. Cantada, Francisco Y. Bobadilla, Efren N. Aledia,
Angelito S. Veluz, and ABC President Cresencio S.
Encabo. This time, the resolution not only sought the
study but urged the Congress of the Philippines
through Congressman Dragon to convert the
Dasmarias Bagong Bayan into a municipality
separate from the municipality of Dasmarias. Again,
the DBB population which was at that time bigger
than that of its host town the original municipality
was cited to justify the separation. In view of this, the
Sangguniang Bayan deemed it timely to separate
the resettlement area for a better, faster, and more
efficient delivery of basic services for the common
welfare of all constituents.
Three years later in 1995, nothing came out of the
two resolutions. The House of Representatives was
reportedly still studying them. Desperate for
concrete congressional action, the Sangguniang
pg. 17

Bayan again took up the matter on their May 12 and

26 regular sessions. Citing previous resolutions, it
approved another one, Resolution No. 47-s-95, which
authorized Mayor Recto Cantimbuhan to make
representations with the office of Congressman
Renato Dragon and push for the conversion of DBB
into a new municipality.
Mayor Cantimbuhan presented Congressman
Dragon with a resolution, Resolution 221-s-1995,
from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province
of Cavite which endorsed the partition of Dasmarias
and the DBB. The provincial council of Cavite took
the matter up of converting DBB into an independent
municipality in their 14th regular session on June 19,
1995. It resulted to the unanimous approval of a
resolution endorsing the conversion of the DBB that
very same day. The resolution was signed by the
Cavite Governor Juanito R. Remulla. It was
transmitted to Dasmarias SB Secretary Ms. Fe Javier
by Mr. Romeo C. Mendoza, the Cavite Provincial
Secretary on July 5, 1995. This was the same
resolution that Mayor Cantimbuhan used to persuade
Congressman Dragon to legislate said partition.24
One month after that communication, Vice-Mayor
Macayan filed a resolution to campaign for the
conversion of Dasmarias into a city on August 31,
1995. This put to question the success of the efforts
to separate DBB from its mother municipality. During
subsequent sessions of the municipal council, SBM
Efren N. Aledia urged that in deference to the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cavite the municipal
council should seek first its opinion on the matter.
After all, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cavite had
just recently unanimously endorsed the resolution for
the DBB separation.
SBM Hugo for his part expressed the opinion
that the new campaign would render the separation
pg. 18

of DBB moot and academic and therefore should no

longer be pursued. For Vice-Mayor Macayan the most
logical decision for the Sangguniang Bayan was to
amend the resolution seeking to separate DBB from
the municipality of Dasmarias to which SBM
Montano Ilano and SBM Hermenigildo Mendoza
agreed. They, however, failed to pursue the
discussion on how it would be amended. To this SBM
Aledia manifested his opposition while SBM Florence
C. Castillo asked that the proponents provide the
body with more information on which they would
base their decision on the subject of cityhood for
Dasmarias.
On Increased Real Estate, Commercial, and Industrial
Taxes
Another contentious subject which caused
disagreement among members of the Municipal
Council was the allegation that real estate and
commercial taxes would be raised once cityhood is
attained. Most members of the Sangguniang Bayan
were anxious and wanted to be clarified on the issue.
Oppositors to the resolution warned of dire
consequences for the towns residents should these
increases be implemented. The oppositors claimed
that the residents would definitely not like it for it will
affect their finances.
SBM Aledia argued that the campaign was
problematic because the municipal tax collector had
been unsuccessful in meeting its collection target.
Should cityhood happen, he said, this problem would
worsen because taxpayers would most likely resist
paying higher taxes making collection more difficult.
These remarks prompted SBM Castillo to suggest
that further study of the resolution be undertaken so
that the council could look into all the implications of
the campaign for cityhood.25
pg. 19

In response Vice-Mayor Macayan stressed that

there will be no need to increase real estate,
commercial, and other taxes immediately. These
concerns, he claimed, could be resolved by simply
amending certain fiscal policies and procedures that
hinder successful tax collection efforts of the
municipal government. Once these improvements
are effected, they would be reinforced and sustained
by local legislations in order to realize increased
income without resorting to higher taxation. This
planned fiscal policy should be communicated to the
taxpaying public because believed that if they are
better informed on the matter, they would readily
support the resolution. He also informed the body
that his committee had prepared a plan for a townwide information dissemination campaign that would
address that concern.26
On its September 14, 1995 session, the
Sangguniang Bayan invited the Municipal Assessor,
Regalado Andaya to make a presentation to the
council and answer their questions regarding the
effects of cityhood to municipal finances and its tax
collection efforts. In the discussion that followed his
speech, Mr. Andaya explained that once converted to
a city, Dasmarias would indeed earn more income
because it would then be entitled to a higher share in
the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). Additional
income may be derived from other sources as well.
One, would be to increase real estate, commercial,
and industrial taxes by one (1) or one point five (1.5)
percent. This approach is easy but would deter the
approval of the resolution for cityhood.
Mr. Regalado Andaya continued to explain that
another way to achieve increased revenue from
taxes would be to aim for 100 percent tax collection
efficiency. A goal that is wrought with much difficulty
but achievable nevertheless. Finally, the council may
pg. 20

opt for the adoption of both approaches. It may

direct the Office of the Municipal Treasurer to
increase taxes and improve its tax collection
efficiency at the same time.
Mr. Andaya stressed, however, that the decision
on which option to pursue rests on the Sangguniang
Bayan. He said that the common notion that cityhood
would mean an automatic increase in real property,
business, and miscellaneous taxes is simply not true.
In fact any revision on tax rates may be suspended
and implemented only after three or five years of
cityhood. Of course there will be no additional
income on taxes for Dasmarias if that happened.
But, even if upward adjustments in the tax rates are
suspended, Dasmarias would still get additional
income. These incomes would come from the
mandated increase in its share in the Internal
Revenue Allotment (IRA), therefore, more income for
the municipality.
With the additional income, Dasmarias would
have the additional financial resources to spend for
the delivery of basic services and construction of
infrastructures. It would make it, for example,
possible for Dasmarias to acquire the land needed
for the extension of the municipal cemetery. It would
also be able to purchase additional dump trucks
needed for better garbage collection. The Philippine
National Police would also be the recipient of better
equipment and vehicles for use in its fight against
criminality. Additionally, Dasmarias would be able to
put up adequate and better infrastructures to attract
more investors to put up their business in the
locality.27

The Cityhood Committee

pg. 21

Since the issue of converting the municipality into

a city was brought upon the Sangguniang Bayan for
the very first time, most members did not want to
rush things up. They wanted to proceed with
deliberateness,
careful
to
avoid
overlooking
significant details that would adversely affect the
success of the campaign. In view of this, they
created a committee that was tasked to scrutinize
the proposal in its minutest details. The committee
would not merely try to find its justifications but
should, more importantly, analyze the threats and
opportunities presented by cityhood. Appointed
members of the committee were Vice-Mayor
Macayan who would head it, SBM Bernard Michael I.
Bautista, SBM Montano A. Ilano, SBM Pablo P. Hugo,
and SBM Ricardo O. Ortillano.
Upon the recommendation of SBM Teofilo B. Lara,
the committee was directed to conduct consultations
with barangay officials in order to know the latters
reactions and also determine where they stand on
the subject. Their opinions should be solicited
because they are the municipal governments closest
link to its constituency,28because according to SBM
Lara, there is really no point in proceeding with the
cityhood project if the residents of the municipality
were not yet ready as evidenced by the growing
problems of squatting, garbage collection, and
criminality. He further asked the committee to study
the cases of the municipalities of Las Pias,
Paraaque, and Valenzuela. These were big
municipalities in terms of income and population but
have yet to apply to be converted into cities.
The Committee submitted its report during the
following Sangguniang Bayan Session. Vice-Mayor
Macayan began by stating that as members of the
municipal council they all aimed to build a better
future for Dasmarias and their task was to build that
pg. 22

future. In order to do that they have to construct a

very strong foundation on which to build this future,
and that foundation was the cityhood for the
municipality.
Cityhood
would
mean
more
income
for
Dasmarias because of the mandated increase in the
IRA share. In addition, there would be more income
on taxes that the municipal government would no
longer share with the provincial government.
Dasmarias would then be able to build
infrastructures and purchase equipment necessary
for the auspicious and efficient conduct of business.
Better business environment would attract more
investors that would result to improved economy
which in turn generate more jobs for the towns
residents. Employment would then give them more
power to purchase goods and service, and as the
cycle continued, it would favorably affect the
municipality and its residents in general.
Vice-Mayor Macayan also reported that contrary
to claims, the municipalities of Las Pias and
Paraaque have also aspired to become cities. Las
Pinas had a cityhood bill pending at the House of
Representatives, House Bill No. 125. Paranaque has
likewise applied through House Bill No. 665. 29 He,
however, advised his colleagues against comparing
these municipalities with Dasmarias because they
have different geographical, political, and social
conditions.
The Vice Mayor also took SBM Hugo to task for the
disparaging remarks in a news report regarding the
cityhood of Dasmarias attributed to the latter. SBM
Hugo owned up to the statement but he clarified that
he made those remarks before the committee that
was tasked to study the resolution was created. In
reply, Vice-Mayor Macayan reminded his colleagues
in the Sangguniang Bayan they were all afforded
pg. 23

freedom of expression especially on the matters of

public concerns, but emphasized to that they also
have the responsibility to exercise prudence in giving
out personal opinions.
Voting on the Resolution
On September 28, 1995, during the 12 th regular
session of the Sangguniang Bayan, SBM Bernard
Michael T. Bautista a cityhood proponent declared
that it was time to approve the resolution and moved
for it approval. He claimed that the resolution had
already been sufficiently debated. The debates and
documents
presented
in
the
council
have
categorically
demonstrated
the
eligibility
of
Dasmarias for cityhood. The motion was seconded
by SBMs Ilawan and Mendoza which immediately
drew reactions from SBM Pablo Hugo and SBM Efren
Aledia.
In a bid to delay its approval and subject the
resolution to further scrutiny, they objected to the
motion claiming that the committee was yet to
submit its report clarifying urgent concerns that were
brought up during past debates regarding cityhood.
They did not, however, mention what these concerns
were. To this, Vice-Mayor Macayan replied that the
committee report has already been submitted,
consolidated,
and discussed
during
previous
meetings. During that session, he continued, the
benefits and adverse effects of cityhood based on
the models of Muntinlupa and GMA were taken up
and were satisfactorily addressed.
SBM Ilano for his part stated that there was
already a consensus among members of the
Sanggunian that the opinion of each member be
solicited through a questionnaire. He added that in
case of objections, a division of the house was then
required
in
accordance
with
parliamentary
pg. 24

procedure. He then moved for the division of the

house on the resolution. Vice-Mayor Macayan
seconded the motion and subsequently called for the
division. Failing to stop the proceeding, SBM Hugo
stood up and declared his intention to challenge the
motion.30
Thus despite oppositions, the historic vote took
place that day. The Sangguniang Bayan members
were asked whether or not they support Resolution
No. 124-s-95. That resolution would pave the way for
the conversion of their town into a city. The result of
that voting showed five (5) members approving the
proposal and none voting against it. The five
councilors who cast affirmative votes were as follows;
SB
Members
Bernard
Michael
T.
Bautista,
Hermenigildo S. Mendoza, Florence C. Castillo, SBM
Montano A. Ilano, and SBM Ma. Irene C. Ilawan.
Although the following did not vote in the negative,
the following abstained, they were; SB Members
Pablo P. Hugo, Teofilo B. Lara, Constancio M. Cantada,
Ricardo G. Ortillano, and Efren N. Aledia.31

NOTES

pg. 25

Onofre D. Corpuz, The Roots of the Filipino Nation, vol. 1, (Quezon City: Aklahi Foundation,
c.1989), 80-81.
2

The Franciscans were credited for having first proposed this system to the regime. Ibid, 187.

Corpuz, The Roots of the Filipino Nation, vol. 1, 60.

Blair, Emma Helen, ed. (1911), The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803. 173-174;

History, Official Website of San Pedro, Laguna,

http://sanpedrolaguna.gov.ph/history.html/accessed October 14, 2014.
6

History, Official Website of Tagaytay City, Retrieved on 2012-02-04. RA 10160 and RA

10161/accessed October 14, 2014.
7

Ibid

LCP Policy Blog. See, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cities_of_the_Philippines/accessed 28

September 2014.
9

Ibid

10

The only independent cities that can still participate in the election of provincial officials are
the following: (a) Cities declared as highly urbanized between 1987 and 1992, whose charters
allow their residents to vote and run for elective positions in the provincial government, and
therefore allowed by Section 452-c of the Local Government Code to maintain these rights, and (b)
Independent component cities whose charters only allow residents to only run for provincial
offices. See, Local Government Code of 1991.
11

Unless otherwise indicated, this section was based on Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local
Government Code which was enacted into law in 1991. The law specified the process of converting
a municipality into a city. It was amended in 2001 by Republic Act No. 9009. See, Book III Local
Government Units, Title III The City, Chapter 1 Role and Creation of a City, Section 449 Manner of
Creation, http://www.chanrobles.com/localgov3.htm#.VGvmPRZX 2f8/accessed November 19,
2014.
12

Minutes of relevant Sangguniang Bayan session from 1995 were provided by Ms. Fe S. Javier
who was the Secretary of the Sangguniang in 1995 and continues to serve in that capacity until
the present Sangguniang Panlungsod; Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, Minutes of the 8th
Regular Session (August 31, 1995), (photocopy), 2.
13

Judino Macayan, interview by Hannibal Carado, 14 June 2014.

14

III. MUNICIPALITIES: Average Annual Income 1st, P55M or more; 2nd P45M or more but less
than P55M; 3rd P35M or more but less than P45M; 4th P25M or more but less than P35M; 5th P15M or
more but less than P25M; 6th Below P15M. See, Department of Finance, Department Order No. 2308 (July 29, 2008) by Margarito B. Teves, (photocopy), 3.
15

Before it became a city which entitled Dasmarias to its own legislative representation to the
House of Representatives, it was part of the Second District of Cavite which included the
municipalities of Dasmarias, Imus, General Mariano Alvarez, Carmona, General Trias, Tanza, and
Trece Martires City. See, City of Dasmarias 2nd Founding Anniversary: A celebration of life,
transformation and new beginnings, Philippine Star News (November 26, 2011), 10.
16

On March 1, 1995 Muntinlupa becomes the 65th city in the Philippines by virtue of Republic
Act No. 7926. See, http://www.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/index.php?
target=about&params=request_._resord#/accessed 6 October 2014.

17

Local Government Code of 1991

18

Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, Minutes of the 8th Regular Session (photocopy).

19

Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, Minutes of the 9th Regular Session (September 7, 1995),
(photocopy), 7-9.
20

Ibid.

21

Cabides, The Integration of the Relocatees.

22

Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, Resolution No. 96-s-90 (August 22, 1990), (photocopy).

23

Municipal Treasurer, Mr. Bonifacio Sarroca, was an invited resource person during the 21 st
special session of the Dasmarias Sangguniang Bayan on August 22, 1990. Sangguniang Bayan of
Dasmarias, 9th Regular Session, Ibid, 9.
24

Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Cavite, Resolution No. 221-s-95 (June 19, 1995), (photocopy).

25

Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, 9th Regular Session, Ibid. 8-9.

26

Ibid. 9.

27

Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, Minutes of the 10th Regular Session (September 14,
1995), photocopy. 4-5.
28

Ibid.

29

On February 12, 1997, President Fidel V. Ramos signed the bill which elevated Las Pias from
municipality into a city. A plebiscite held a month after approved the city status by its residents,
and Las Pias became the 10th city of Metro Manila on March 26, 1997. See,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Pi%C3%B1as/accessed/August 21, 2014. Paraaque was converted
as the 11th city in Metro Manila (after sister city Las Pias in 1997), and was chartered and
urbanized by Former President Fidel V. Ramos during the celebration of the city's 426th Founding
Anniversary. See, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Para%C3%B1aque/accessed/August 21, 2014.
30

Sangguniang Bayan of Dasmarias, Minutes of the 12th Regular Session (September 28,
1995), photocopy.
31

Ibid.