By ROGER M. BALANZA
Mati residents have one other reason to celebrate December with jubilation. Coming ahead of Christmas and New Year, Mati has realized its dream to become a city.
In a pre-Christmas offering to jubilant Mati residents, the Supreme Court has endowed Mati, along with 15 other aspiring local governments, the much awaited status as a city
The High Tribunal in a 6-4 vote reversed its earlier ruling that granting city hood to the towns was unconstitutional. The ruling stemmed from a petition by other local government units opposing grant of city hood to 16 towns, including Mati.
Mati Mayor Michelle Rabat and Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon welcomed the decision saying Mati as a city would have economic ripple effect on the entire province and a big break for Mati residents.
Mati City would be the lone city in this province with the oldest towns in the country.
Civic groups and non-governmental organizations, who backed local government officials and residents in opposing the earlier ruling by the high court, joined in the celebration over Mati’s new status.
Mayor Rabat said she expects the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to restore the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) after the SC decision. Mati, which received annually P180 million in IRA as a town, would have an IRA of P450 million as a city.
Mati already has been receiving the bigger amount until the earlier Supreme Court ruling that declared its cityhood as unconstitutional.
In its latest ruling, the Supreme Court granted cityhood to Baybay in Leyte; Bogo in Cebu; Catbalogan in Samar; Tandag in Surigao del Sur; Borongan in Eastern Samar; Tayabas in Quezon province; Lamitan in Basilan; Tabuk in Kalinga; Bayugan in Agusan del Sur; Batac in Ilocos Norte; Mati in Davao Oriental; Guihulngan in Negros Oriental; Cabadbaran in Agusan del Norte; Carcar in Cebu; El Salvador in Misamis Oriental and Naga in Cebu.
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