21 New Cities in the Philippines?

The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) is endorsing the conversion into cities of 21 municipalities that have already met the requirements for cityhood set by Constitution and the Local Government Code. The list of municipalities from various parts of the country below have already qualified for cityhood based on the standards set by law:

Cabuyao, Laguna
San Pedro, Laguna
Cainta, Rizal
Taytay, Rizal
Binangonan, Rizal
Bacoor, Cavite
Gen. Trias, Cavite
Imus, Cavite
Carmona, Cavite
Silang, Cavite
San Pedro, Laguna
Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija
Calaca, Batangas
Sto. Tomas, Batangas
Bauan, Batangas
Nasugbu, Batangas
Mauban, Quezon
Marilao, Bulacan
Sta. Maria, Bulacan
Norzagaray, Bulacan
Limay, Bataan

Imus, Bacoor and Cabuyao have pending cityhood application in Congress, but the 18 others are still waiting for their congressmen to file cityhood bills on their behalf.

LCP President Oscar Rodriguez, mayor of San Fernando City, Pampanga, said their group would be firm in opposing the conversion into cities of 16 other municipalities recently granted cityhood status by the Supreme Court. These municipalities are:

Batac, Ilocos Norte
Tabuk, Kalinga
Tayabas, Quezon
Baybay, Leyte
Catbalogan, Samar
Borongan, Eastern Samar
Guihulngan, Negros Oriental
Bogo, Cebu
Naga, Cebu
Carcar, Cebu
Tandag, Surigao del Sur
Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte
El Salvador, Misamis Oriental
Mati, Davao Oriental
Bayugan, Agusan del Sur
Lamitan, Basilan.

How does a municipality become a city?

Under the Local Government Code, as amended by Republic Act 9009 that took effect on June 30, 2007, a municipality may be converted into a component city only if it meets two of three requirements: "locally generated average annual income of P100 million for the last two consecutive years and contiguous territory of at least 100 square kilometers or a population of not less than 150,000 inhabitants."

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