OLONGAPO TURNS 42
People's Journal
OLONGAPO marks its 42nd city hood anniversary today.
It was a turning point in the history of the erstwhile US naval reservation which seven years earlier struggled to extricate itself from the grip of American military rule.
As complaints of abuses committed by some US Navy authorities against Filipino civilians mounted, community leaders led by James L. Gordon, Sr. lobbied for the turn over of Olongapo to the Philippine government. In December 1959, Olongapo was reverted as a Philippine municipality with Gordon as its first elected mayor in a boomtown atmosphere. At this point Gordon decided to break away from the Zambales provincial government. He worked for its city hood status and on June 1, 1966 then President Ferdinand Marcos signed into law Republic Act 4645 declaring Olongapo into a Chartered City.
During the term of Sen. Richard Gordon as mayor, Olongapo gained the status of “highly urbanized city”.
Under Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr., Olongapo has made impressive strides in economic growth, livelihood and employment generation, tourism development, infrastructure modernization, information technology, land use and management and poverty alleviation.
On its 42nd city hood anniversary, Gordon has more reason to be inspired and motivated because for him, the responsibility of charting Olongapo’s course towards a future of excellence is an enduring legacy of his father.
It was a turning point in the history of the erstwhile US naval reservation which seven years earlier struggled to extricate itself from the grip of American military rule.
As complaints of abuses committed by some US Navy authorities against Filipino civilians mounted, community leaders led by James L. Gordon, Sr. lobbied for the turn over of Olongapo to the Philippine government. In December 1959, Olongapo was reverted as a Philippine municipality with Gordon as its first elected mayor in a boomtown atmosphere. At this point Gordon decided to break away from the Zambales provincial government. He worked for its city hood status and on June 1, 1966 then President Ferdinand Marcos signed into law Republic Act 4645 declaring Olongapo into a Chartered City.
During the term of Sen. Richard Gordon as mayor, Olongapo gained the status of “highly urbanized city”.
Under Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr., Olongapo has made impressive strides in economic growth, livelihood and employment generation, tourism development, infrastructure modernization, information technology, land use and management and poverty alleviation.
On its 42nd city hood anniversary, Gordon has more reason to be inspired and motivated because for him, the responsibility of charting Olongapo’s course towards a future of excellence is an enduring legacy of his father.
Labels: 42nd Anniversary, City Hood, Mayor Bong Gordon, olongapo, Senator Dick Gordon
posted by Olongapo Subic at
6:05 PM
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