CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Philippines— Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo P. Aquino recently signed City Ordinance No. 2011-28-054 declaring October 16 every year as “Adlaw san Calbayog” Calbayog Day ). Said ordinance was signed in the presence of city councilors Danila Bernate, Roger Casurao and Julius Mancol, and chief of staff Andrew Aquino.

Sponsored by second district majority floorleader Mancol, the ordinance was unanimously approved on September 20, 21011. This significant piece of legislation commemorates the enacting into law establishing the City of Calbayog on October 16, 1948

Republic Act No. 328, otherwise known as the Charter of the City of Calbayog was signed into law by then President Elpidio Quirino. The measure was the brainchild of then Senate President Jose D. Avelino who was a native of Calbayog.

Only just five months on the job, Mayor Aquino is the 10th city mayor since Pedro Pido, the first city mayor. The now city chief executive was the incumbent vice mayor in his third term when his predecessor, Dr. Reynaldo S. Uy was felled with fatal bullets fired by still unknown assailants in Hinabangan town, almost 100 kilometerrs south of this city, last April 30.

In a recent interview, Aquino admitted he is stymied by such problems he inherited from the previous administration, including arrears with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and SAMELCO-1 electric cooperative, as well as unremitted contributions to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). City Hall has 1,118 regular employees, and over a hundred casuals.

Now in his 18th year as a public servant serving Calbayog City, Aquino started public service as councilor, then as vice mayor where he was in his third term when he succeeded the late Mayor Ining Uy. A certified public accountant, he and his wife, Lina, run a hotel resort-restaurant in Barangay San Policarpo, two kilometers from the city proper.

When asked if he would throw his hat into the local mayoralty ring in the 2013 local election, the tennis-playing mayor merely flashed an enigmatic smile.

Meanwhile, the city government's arts and culture office has prepared a weeklong round of activities to highlight the cultural program as part of the commemoration of the 63rd anniversary of Calbayog as a chartered city.