REPUBLIC ACT NO.

1209 - AN ACT MAKING ELECTIVE THE POSITIONS OF MAYOR, VI

Section 1. Section eight of Commonwealth Act Numbered One hundred fifty-eight, as amended

"Sec. 8. Election and Compensation. –

"He shall be elected by the qualified electors of the City. He shall be at least twenty-five years
Act Numbered Eight hundred forty. A discretionary fund of three thousand pesos a year shall b

Sec. 2. Section eight and one-half of the same Act, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Th

"Sec. 8 . The Vice-Mayor. – There shall be a Vice-Mayor who shall be elected by the qualified
duties and exercise the powers of the Mayor, in the event of sickness, absence, or other

"The Vice-Mayor, when not acting as Mayor shall be ex officio member of the Municipal Board

Sec. 3. The first paragraph of section fourteen of the same Act, as amended by Republic Act N

"Section 14. Constitution and organization of the Municipal Board. – The Municipal Board shall
to be elected by the qualified electors of the City. The councilors shall be qualified electors of
thereof at which he is present and shall have the right to vote on all matters submitted to th
resolutions and motions directing the payment of money or creating liability. In case of sickn
who shall hold office, possess all the rights, received the emoluments, and discharge all the du

Sec. 4. The first election for Mayor, Vice-Mayor and councilors of the City of Iloilo under the pr

Sec. 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. cra law

THE ILOILO CITY FREEDOM GRANDSTAND

February 16, 2014 at 11:50 AM

THE ILOILO CITY FREEDOM GRANDSTAND

(By: dinggol araneta divinagracia-Ilonggo Nation Global Federation-02/14/2014)

Brief History:
As Congressman (1953-1955) of Iloilo City and Province, Roding Ganzon authored and sponsored the "Iloilo City Freedom
Law" (Republic Act 1209) which restored to the people of Arevalo, Jaro, La Paz, Manduriao, Molo and Iloilo City proper their
constitutional right to elect their own Mayor, Vice-Mayor and Councilors.

As the first elective Mayor (1955-1959), Ganzon built a modest grandstand within Sunburst Park, renamed "Freedom Park"
fronting the Aduana --as a concrete memorial to the the new found political freedom of City residents.

In 1992, Mayor Mansing Malabor renovated the grandstand into a gigantic ILOILO CITY FREEDOM GRANDSTAND, that
adversely affected the impressive view of the old Iloilo Custom House.

They began after demolition of "Kantina ng Bayan" eateries and display booths in Freedom Park, operated by the Iloilo
Walking Corp./Iloilo Walkers Club under the presidency of Dinggol A. Divinagracia, in joint venture with Iloilo City Multi-
Purpose Cooperative, Inc. headed by Dr. Sergio M. Gonzalez.

Relocation, is the name of the game!

With the rapid growth of "La Muy Leal y Noble Ciudad de Iloilo" and the no-holds-bar of becoming a first class modern
megalopolis in the near future, many believed that the present site had already outlived it's purpose and has to be relocated to an
appropriate location.

A New Horizon:
Ubdoubtedly the success of SM City and Megaworld Projects in Brgy. Bakhaw and Brgy. Airport in Mandurriao respectively,
triggered massive commercial expansion and tourism attraction including it's environs.

It is in this context, that perhaps, the proposed relocation site shall be along the Villa Beach, an area within "La Villa Rica de
Arevalo"-historicaL root of our beloved Ciudad de Iloilo.

Moreover, this would initiate the grand plan reclamation project and envisioned boulevard as venue for Paraw Regatta, Fluvial
Sto. Niño procession, Re-enactment of the early arrival in Aninipay (Panay) of our adventurous sea-faring ancestors that
inspired Ati-Atihan, Dinagyang, Binirayan and for any other future historical and cultural festivities.

Political Will:
Negative reaction for clearing the area shall certainly be encountered from the vote-rich informal settlers within the vicinity. It
is imperative, therefore, that a compromise agreement be negotiated by and between the City government and legitimate
organized residents associations therein.

Perhaps! a high-rise tenement housing project could be constructed within the area on a Build-Operate-Transfer program to
accommodate the populace and managed by bonafide Brgy. Officials as approved by builders.

Kag kon mahimo ni Primo Narcing Monfort ang Coastal Road going to Dumangas; nga-a indi mahimo diri mismo sa aton
Ciudad sang Iloilo? Ini iya tanan, kon sa akon gid lamang! ~~~