69 OG No. 7, 1154-16 (February 12, 1973)

[ PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 125, February 05, 1973 ]

AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2234, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CITY CHARTER OF LEGAZPI, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, Article I, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 2234,
otherwise known as the "City Charter of Legazpi," provides that "The
City of Legazpi, which is hereby created, shall comprise the present
territorial jurisdiction of the Municipality of Legazpi, Province of
Albay";

WHEREAS, the steady growth and continuing urbanization of
the City of Legazpi on account of its strategic importance and location
as the hub of commerce, industry, transportation and communications and
as the regional center of government offices in the Bicol Region,
urgently necessitate a wider area or territory for its expansion;

WHEREAS, such present and future need for the expansion and
consequent modernization of the City of Legazpi can be adequately met by
including and making part of its territory the contiguous and/or
adjacent Municipality of Daraga, Province of Albay;

WHEREAS, under Republic Act 306, which created the City of
Legazpi for the first time in June 18, 1948, the present Municipality of
Daraga was in fact part and parcel of the City of Legazpi as provided
for in Article I, Section 2 thereof, but which, through the undesirable
practice of gerrymandering possible under the old society, was separated
therefrom for political expediency; and

WHEREAS, in the referendum conducted by and among the
citizens assemblies in the City of Legazpi and in the Municipality of
Daraga with a total of 43,303 persons attending, 40,694 voted for the
annexation of the Municipality of Daraga to the City of Legazpi, while
only 2,373 voted against the proposal;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as
Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and
pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General
Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, do hereby amend Republic Act No.
2234, particularly Article I, Section 2 thereof to read as follows:

"Territory of the City of Legazpi. — The City of
Legazpi which is hereby created, shall comprise the present territorial
jurisdiction of the City of Legazpi and the Municipality of Daraga in
the Province of Albay."

For this purpose, the funds and obligations and properly of all
kinds of the Municipality of Daraga shall be transferred to and assumed
by the City of Legazpi.

The City of Legazpi as now constituted
under this Decree shall be divided into three districts, namely, Daraga,
Old Albay and Legazpi Port, each of which shall be entitled to four (4)
councilors to be elected in the manner provided for under Republic Act
No. 2234 by the qualified voters in their respective districts: Provided,
however, That the first four (4) councilors of the district of
Daraga shall be appointed by the President and together with the
incumbent councilors shall continue to hold office until their
successors shall have been duly elected and have qualified unless sooner
removed.

Any provision of existing laws, and rules and regulations in
conflict with this Decree are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

This Decree is hereby made part of the law of the land and shall take
effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 5th day of
February, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.

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