Davao lawmakers want March 1 foundation day as yearly holiday
By AJ Siytangco
Published Oct 27, 2018 11:32 am
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Efforts to declare March 1 of every year as a special non-woking holiday in the city of Davao to commemorate its foundation day have snowballed at the House of Representatives.
Davao City Rep. Alberto Ungab joined Deputy Speaker Mylene J. Garcia-Albano in pushing for the passage of the bill seeking to repeal Republic Act 7685 or the law declaring March 16 of every year a special nonworking holiday in Davao City.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Ungab said Republic Act 7685 was approved in 1993, declaring March 16 of every year as a special nonworking public holiday in Davao City to be known as the "Araw ng Dabaw."
"Republic Act 7685 failed to consider, however, Resolution No. 25 which officially set and recognized March 1 as "Araw ng Dabaw"," Ungab said in filing House Bill 8261.
Resolution No. 25, Series of 1973, adopted by the City Council of Davao City, amended and changed the date of the celebration of the foundation day from March 16 to March 1 of every year.
"On March 6, 2018, the Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Davao City adopted Resolution No. 1946-18 Series of 2018, informing the Congress of the Philippines that the "Araw ng Davao" or the foundation day of Davao City is on March 1, 1937 and not on March 16, 1936, and that there are markers or historic landmarks, particularly in the City Hall, that indicate that Davao City was inaugurated on March 1, 1937 and not March 16, 1936," Ungab said.
In filing House Bill 8215, Garcia-Albano noted that over time, pieces of evidence were discovered showing that Davao City was actually founded on March 1, 1937.
She said the Committee on Rules, Privileges, Laws and Ordinances of the City Council of Davao conducted an investigation to determine the basis of RA 7685 in declaring March 16 as the Foundation Day of the City and found out no factual basis.
She noted that in the minutes of the House deliberations dated August 18, 1993 on which RA 7685 was approved, Leyte Rep. Sergio Antonio Apostol merely moved for the declaration of “Araw ng Dabaw” to be March 16 without citing any factual or historical basis.
Garcia-Albano sought the prompt approval of the measure, which seeks “to correct a historical inaccuracy in Davao City’s evolution as a major urban center of the country and arguably the seat of power in this era of the country’s history.”
Under House Bill 8215, Davao City officials shall lead appropriate and meaningful celebrations and activities that give significance and meaning to the founding fathers of the city, its glorious history and contributions to national development. The activities shall be participated in by officials and employees of the national and local governments, agencies, and instrumentalities, civic, religious and non-government organizations, private companies and other interested parties.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Ungab said Republic Act 7685 was approved in 1993, declaring March 16 of every year as a special nonworking public holiday in Davao City to be known as the "Araw ng Dabaw."
"Republic Act 7685 failed to consider, however, Resolution No. 25 which officially set and recognized March 1 as "Araw ng Dabaw"," Ungab said in filing House Bill 8261.
Resolution No. 25, Series of 1973, adopted by the City Council of Davao City, amended and changed the date of the celebration of the foundation day from March 16 to March 1 of every year.
"On March 6, 2018, the Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Davao City adopted Resolution No. 1946-18 Series of 2018, informing the Congress of the Philippines that the "Araw ng Davao" or the foundation day of Davao City is on March 1, 1937 and not on March 16, 1936, and that there are markers or historic landmarks, particularly in the City Hall, that indicate that Davao City was inaugurated on March 1, 1937 and not March 16, 1936," Ungab said.
In filing House Bill 8215, Garcia-Albano noted that over time, pieces of evidence were discovered showing that Davao City was actually founded on March 1, 1937.
She said the Committee on Rules, Privileges, Laws and Ordinances of the City Council of Davao conducted an investigation to determine the basis of RA 7685 in declaring March 16 as the Foundation Day of the City and found out no factual basis.
She noted that in the minutes of the House deliberations dated August 18, 1993 on which RA 7685 was approved, Leyte Rep. Sergio Antonio Apostol merely moved for the declaration of “Araw ng Dabaw” to be March 16 without citing any factual or historical basis.
Garcia-Albano sought the prompt approval of the measure, which seeks “to correct a historical inaccuracy in Davao City’s evolution as a major urban center of the country and arguably the seat of power in this era of the country’s history.”
Under House Bill 8215, Davao City officials shall lead appropriate and meaningful celebrations and activities that give significance and meaning to the founding fathers of the city, its glorious history and contributions to national development. The activities shall be participated in by officials and employees of the national and local governments, agencies, and instrumentalities, civic, religious and non-government organizations, private companies and other interested parties.