JONG CADION
Chief of reporters
Nothing stops this city from celebrating its 39th Charter Day, even intermittent rain, brought by tropical storm Frank, which battered several areas in the country last week.
The show went on, rain or shine, as Mayor Samuel Co was uncomprising, starting the flag and banner raising ceremony as early as 6:00 in the morning at Rizal Park, City Hall Complex.
The activity was followed by different ecumenical prayers and the singing of the national anthem led by the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division Band.
A civic-military parade followed around the city streets and ended at the City Oval where participants from various schools, government agencies gathered to witness the drum and lyre competition.
The anniversary program proper was at the City Gym with Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri as guest.
“Today, we come together to celebrate the birthday of our city. It excites me to recognize the miracle of its birth. But how my interest and wonder increase as I behold the emerging of a new faces of a much better Pagadian. Today, we pay tribute to those who participated in such a noble act for the creation of our city and at the same time, celebrate our substantial achievements over the years,” was Co’s message.
Co then announced his ongoing projects for the city like the multi million-peso expansion of Pagadian City airport and seaport and the city’s aggressive tourism promotion.
Chosen sites for tourism destinations include Kendis Cave, Lourdes Hot Spring, Poloyagan Beach Resort, Palpalan Mini-Golf Course and Mountain Viewing Deck.
Other infra projects cited by Co are the renovation of City Hall and gym, construction of Executive Building, new City Health Building, Agora Perimeter Building, City Library, City Police Station, City Fire station and the soon to be built 5-storey commercial building.
“My special thanks to Rep. Tony Cerilles and Gov. Auring Cerilles who helped us seek the P200-million budgets from the national government needed to fastrack the full implementation of the regional transfer,” Co said.
This year’s anniversary day theme is “Pagadian Malambuon, Katawhan Mauswagon.”