Gov. Petilla welcomes Baybay town’s cityhood

By Provincial Media Relations Center (PMRC Leyte Province)
February 11, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla welcomes the news on the cityhood of Baybay town in Leyte’s fifth district seeing it as a big economic boost to the province.

The governor sees this that with an increased income by being declared a city, it can stand for itself in serving for the needs of its constituents.

In his weekly radio program Hingyap han Leyteño, Gov. Petilla said that he is happy over the news as this would mean that other barangays under the province can be benefited.

“Nalilipay ako kay mamemenos-menusan paghatag ngadto hiton ira mga barangay ngan lugod mahahatag naton iton pondo ha iba pa nga mas nanginginahanglan nga mga barangay,” Gov. Petilla said over his weekly radio program Hingyap han Leyteño.

Comparatively speaking, the governor said the province has only a budget of 900 million to be distributed among more than 1,000 barangays to that of a city such as Tacloban that has a budget of P500 million but serving only 138 barangays.

“So, you would see the big difference. If Baybay would eventually become a city, their income would increase and this would go only to the barangays they serve,” Gov. Petilla added.

According to the governor, under the province, Baybay would provide as a center of growth on the other half of the province.

Not discounting though, he said, Ormoc City located west of the province, but Ormoc is a chartered city and therefore apart of the provincial wing.

It can be recalled that the Senate early this week approved on third and final reading the conversion of municipalities into cities that includes Baybay in Leyte, Catbalogan in Samar and Borongan in Eastern Samar.

Baybay, located in the province’s fifth district is Leyte’s biggest municipality in terms of land area, population and annual income.