Imus, Bacoor Targeting Cityhood Referendum

IMUS, Cavite, Philippines - Officials here will call a referendum as soon as President Aquino signs the cityhood measure for Imus and Bacoor that was approved by the bicameral conference committee.

Imus District Representative Erineo "Ayong" Maliksi said the referendum may take place in March if the President will approve the measure next week.

"We will hold the referendum next month once the President approves the measure," Maliksi said in the vernacular in an interview with reporters at the municipal hall.

With the development, the historical Imus is virtually only a step away from becoming a city.

The referendum is the last prerequisite before a town can be a city.

Neighboring Imus and Bacoor will be officially called cities after the two districts get the "yes" votes of their electorate.

With the development, this historical town is virtually only a step away from becoming a city.

The Bicameral Conference Committee on the cityhood of Bacoor and Imus, jointly chaired by Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. and Negros Oriental 2nd District Rep. George Arnaiz, passed the related bills filed in the Senate and House of Representatives with the adoption of all proposed amendments.

Marcos, chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Governments, said that the measure was approved after Imus and Bacoor have complied with all the requirements to become cities.

The cityhood measures of Bacoor and Imus have been pending in Congress for years.

Imus, the official capital of Cavite, and Bacoor, the so-called "gateway" of the province, will become the fifth and sixth cities, or vice versa (whichever gets the first plebiscite mandate first) after Cavite City, the former capital; Trece Martires City, the Capitol's site; prime tourist destination Tagaytay City and Dasmarinas City, the province's most populated area.

Bacoor and Imus, both first-class municipalities and the second and third most populated towns, respectively, became districts upon approval of Congress and Malacañang in December 2010. Actress Lani Mercado-Revilla, wife of Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. was the first elected House representative in Bacoor and so with Maliksi in Imus.

Officials in Bacoor have yet to announce when they would conduct their cityhood referendum.