Olongapo turns 43

OLONGAPO Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr., leads the observance today of Olongapo’s 43rd city hood anniversary.

The erstwhile US Naval reservation which struggled to extricate itself from American military rule has over the years evolved into a model community with a vibrant economy and disciplined citizenry.

The late James L. Gordon, Sr. decided to separate from the Zambales government 43 years ago and worked for Olongapo’s conversion into a city. Earlier on, he led the crusade for the turnover of Olongapo to the Philippine government following complaints of abuses committed by some US navy authorities.

In December 1959, Olongapo was reverted as a Philippine municipality with Gordon as its first elected mayor. On June 1, 1966, then President Ferdinand Marcos signed into law Republic Act 4645 declaring Olongapo a Chartered City.

During the term of Sen. Richard Gordon as mayor Olongapo gained the status of “highly urbanized city.”

Now, under the administration of his brother Bong Gordon, Olongapo has made impressive strides in economic growth, livelihood and employment generation, infrastructure modernization, information technology and poverty alleviation.

--People’s Journal