San Fernando City La Union Philippines

The year 1998 ushered forth the fulfillment of the dream for the City of San Fernando, known as the gateway to the Ilocandia, the seat of National Government Offices in Region I and the center of trade, commerce, financial and educational institutions, among others. From a deep rooted potential stable community governance to the best gift of Mother Nature – a seaport responsive to international shipping, an airport with viable capacity to accommodate international air traffic, natural terrain conducive to unlimited tourism development, and a people endowed with cultural and virtuous heritage of industry, spirituality, nationalism and aspiration for growth, peace and prosperity, the City of San Fernando has emerged as the booming Metropolis of the North.

The consistent popular clamor and aspiration of its barangay officials and residents served as the impetus which ushered forth the enactment of Resolution No. 20 dated May 14, 1996 by the Sangguniang Bayan of San Fernando, La Union requesting the House of Representatives, Congress of the Philippines for the conversion of the Municipality of San Fernando, La Union into a Component City.

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 11 of the Rules and Regulations implementing the Local Government Code of 1991 and Section 450 and 459 of Republic Act 7160, San Fernando has satisfactorily met the basic requirements for conversion:

1.

INCOME – An average income of not less than Twenty Million Pesos (Php 20,000,000.00), for the immediately preceding two (2) years based on 1991 constant prices, as certified by the Department of Finance (DOF). The average annual income shall include the income accruing to the general fund, exclusive of special funds, special account transfers and non-recurring income, and
2.

LAND AREA – which must be contiguous with an area of at least One Hundred (100) square kilometers or Ten Thousand (10,000) hectares, as certified by the Land Management Bureau (LMB).

In a certification dated February 9, 1996 of the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) the average annual income of San Fernando, La Union for calendar years 1994 and 1995 based on 1991 constant prices is Forty Four Million Three Hundred Fifty One Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty One Pesos and Sixty Six Centavos (Php 44,351,821.66), (Section 450 of the Code). Further, in a certification dated January 11, 1996 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the land area of San Fernando, LA Union is Ten Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Six (10,526) hectares well above the minimum requirement of Ten Thousand (10,000) hectares.

After comprehensive study and judicious evaluation by the Provincial Government, after a series of public hearings, and finding the petition meritorious, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan adopted Resolution 425-96 dated November 21, 1996 favorably endorsing to the House of Representatives, Congress of the Philippines, the petition of San Fernando, La Union for conversion into a Component City.

Upon the sponsorship of Hon. Victor F. Ortega, Representative of the 1st District of La Union to the House of Congress of the Philippines, House Bill 7594 was approved: “Act Converting the Municipality of San Fernando, LA Union into a Component City to be known as the City of San Fernando.”

In an unprecedented three (3) hour Public Hearing conducted by the Committee on Local Government of the House of Representatives headed by Hon. Ciriaco Alfelor as Chairman on July 13, 1997, at the Oasis Country Resort Hotel, San Fernando, La Union, which public hearing was attended by the cross section of the community, the petition of the municipality for the conversion of San Fernando into a Component City was unanimously approved. During the Senate Committee Meeting dated January 15,1998 and upon sponsorship of Hon. Vicente Sotto, III and Hon. Juan Flavier, House Bill 7594 was likewise unanimously approved.

On February 13,1998, Republic Act 8509 was signed into law by his Excellency, President Fidel V. Ramos in the presence of local officials and employees, barangay officials, representatives of non-government organizations and people’s organizations.

Finally, on March 20, 1998, the residents of San Fernando manifested their resounding YES in the Plebiscite which ratified Republic Act 8509: Conversion of the Municipality of San Fernando into a Component City to be known as the City of San Fernando.

The odyssey and quest for the conversion of San Fernando into a city has long been envisioned by its leaders through the years and the fulfillment of this long-cherished dream unlocked the floodgates for the fullest development of San Fernando as a self-reliant community heralded the beginning of a commitment for expanded responsibilities and integrated city development, signaling the acceptance of new challenges for its leaders and people.