Categories
Metro Manila

Taguig City Charter Day

Taguig City Charter Day is held in the city of Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines every December 8. The date may be declared a special nonworking holiday in the city through executive issuance such as Proclamation No. 358 in 2017.

The city also celebrates the Taguig City founding anniversary every April 25.

History of the cityhood of Taguig

Taguig used to belong to the province of Rizal. It seceded from Rizal and became one of the component territories of the newly formed Metropolitan Manila by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824 on November 7, 1975.

From a municipality, Taguig became a highly urbanized city through the passage of Republic Act No. 8487, otherwise known as “An Act Converting the Municipality of Taguig, Metro Manila, Into a Highly Urbanized City to be Known as the City of Taguig, and for Other Purposes” on February 11, 1998.

Its conversion to a city was not straightforward and easy. As required by the said law, a plebiscite was conducted by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on April 25, 1998. It asked the residents of Taguig the question, “Do you approve the conversion of the Municipality of Taguig, Metro Manila into a highly urbanized city to be known as the City of Taguig, as provided for in Republic Act No. 8487? “

COMELEC issued a declaration that the result was that the majority of the electorate voted no despite the fact that not all 64 returns were counted. After a recount was ordered by COMELEC en banc, the earlier result was confirmed and the conversion of Taguig to a city was denied.

Ma. Salvacion Buac and Antonio Bautista, residents of Taguig, filed a petition to annul the results of the plebiscite and to request for “revision and recount of the ballots,” arguing that the counting of the votes was mired in fraud and irregularities.

The COMELEC referred the matter to the Second Division, however lawyer and senator Alan Peter Cayetano filed a petition alleging that the plebiscite recount and an election protest involving plebiscite were outside the ambit of COMELEC’s powers. The Second Division and COMELEC en banc agreed, and they denied Buac’s and Bautista’s petition.

The Supreme Court ruled against the decision of the COMELEC on January 26, 2004 and stated that plebiscites and election protest arising from them are within the duties of COMELEC as they fall under Section 2 (1), Article IX (C) of the Constitution.

After the Second Division reconvened the committees for the recount, and the result was submitted on April 28, 2004. On December 8, 2004, COMELEC en banc issued an order declaring RA 8487 as ratified with 21,105 ballots with “yes” versus 19,460 ballots with “no”. This is the date of Taguig City Charter Day commemorates.

The Supreme Court ruled with finality the result of the recount on January 23, 2006.

How to reach Taguig City

Arrange for a land travel from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Taguig City, which is a distance of about nine kilometers.

References

Taguig City Charter Day Summary

NameTaguig City Charter Day
CelebrationCharter Day, Cityhood
CountryPhilippines
DateDecember 8
Facebookwww.facebook.com
LocationTaguig City
OrganizerCity Government of Taguig
Twittertwitter.com
Websitewww.taguig.gov.ph