spot_img
29 C
Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Solon lauds Senate okay of Sibugay holiday bill

- Advertisement -

Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay—House Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Wilter “Sharky” Palma II has lauded the Senate’s recent approval on the third and final reading of a House bill that seeks to declare February 24 as a special non-working holiday every year in celebration of the birth of the province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Palma, who authored House Bill No. 5207, said the declaration of February 24 annually as “Araw ng Sibugay” will allow its people to celebrate and honor the humble beginnings and the history of the province.

“It will encourage every Sibugaynon to be part of the celebrations which honor the continuing efforts of the people to improve, pursuant to sustainable development of the community that they are part of,” Palma said.

He expressed his gratitude to Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government to sponsor his bill in the upper chamber.

Palma, who earned his second term as representative of the province’s first district following the May polls, said that being a multi-ethnic province, Zamboanga Sibugay’s festivities will be an opportunity to gather everyone as a testament of working together toward one unified direction.

- Advertisement -

The lawmaker is the son of Atty. Wilter Yap Palma, who also got a fresh mandate for his third term as Governor of the province in the midterm elections.

The province was created on February 14, 2001, and its seat of government was founded along the banks of Sibuguey River, the largest and longest waterway of the province.

Zamboanga Sibugay was created through Republic Act 8973, signed into law by President Joseph E. Estrada on November 7, 2000. This was ratified on February 24, 2001 through a plebiscite conducted in 44 municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian City.

Becoming the 79th province of the Philippines, it comprises 16 municipalities and 390 barangays. Based on the 2015 census, Zamboanga Sibugay is a home to about 633,129 inhabitants, which belong to various ethnicities and religious beliefs.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles