By Franklin P. Gumapon
BAYOG, Zamboanga del Norte – “Your presence in today’s activity shows your active involvement in municipal affairs,” said Zamboanga del Norte Vice Governor Juan C. Regala during the 47th founding anniversary of this town on Thursday.
Speaking in lieu of Zamboanga del Sur first district representative Aurora E. Cerilles, Vice Governor Regala also urged the residents to remember their leaders who contributed to the growth and progress of the municipality.
“Let us connect the past to the present,” he stressed, as he emphasized to the townsfolk the significant roles played by the past leaders to bring the municipality to what it is today.
“Let us also ask ourselves: what have we contributed for the municipality?” he told the audience.
Regala also challenged the municipal leaders and employees to review their scoreboard to assess their accomplishments and identify the things that need to be done.
He also urged the youth to study hard, “as education is the only solution to poverty.”
The vice governor also shared the vision of Governor Antonio H. Cerilles in setting up extension campuses of the JH Cerilles State College in every municipality of the province.
He also expressed his appreciation to all the residents of the municipality for contributing to its growth and development.
“The diverse tribes in this municipality consisting of Subanens, Cebuanos, Ilonggos, Ilocanos, Bicolanos and many others don’t hamper the town’s growth and development,” Regala pointed out.
Bayog was created into a municipality in November 1964 by virtue of Executive Order No, 112 by then President Diosdado Macapagal.
However, it was reverted shortly by virtue of a Supreme Court decision in a petition of then Congressman Emmanuel Pelaez that the creation of municipalities is the sole authority of the Congress.
The town was finally born into a separate and distinct municipality on May 8, 1967 by virtue of Republic Act (R.A.) 4872 authored by former Congressman Vinzenso Sagun of the lone district of Zamboanga del Sur at the time.
