PAGADIAN CITY – All is ready for this city’s 45th founding anniversary celebration tomorrow, June 21, with the theme, “Pagadian: Kakugi ug paningkamot, giya sa kalambuang malungtaron” (Pagadian: Industry and hard work, key to sustainable development).
Sources from the city government said a grand civic-military parade will be held at 7:30 a.m. with the entire city officialdom led by Mayor Romeo P. Pulmones, national, regional and provincial government offices, different civic and peoples organizations, non-government organizations, Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP), Bureau of Jail Management & Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the academe and barangay officials as participants.
An anniversary program will follow with Senator Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. as guest of honor and speaker.
A former barrio of the municipal district of Labangan, Pagadian was organized into a regular municipality on March 26, 1937 by virtue of Executive Order No. 77 promulgated by the late President Manuel L. Quezon through the initiative and recommendation of then Assemblyman Juan S. Alano.
A certain Jose Sanson became the first appointed mayor and after his brief stint as town “Presidente,” a regular election was held and Francisco Consolacion became the first elected mayor.
Congressman Roseller T. Lim authored Republic Act No. 711, dividing Zamboanga Province into two provinces: Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte on June 6, 1952.
Pagadian became the capital town of Zamboanga del Sur, which was inaugurated on September 17, 1952, and was converted into a chartered city by virtue of R. A. 5478 authored by Congressman Vincenzo A. Sagun, on June 21, 1969.
Mayor Benjamin F. Arao was appointed as the first city mayor while Dr. Felimon S. Pajares was inducted into office as the first elected city mayor on January 1, 1972.
