Naga: its transformation into one of Cebus fast rising cities

As Cebus long history unfolded, so did Nagas odyssey to cityhood.

Naga, whose name derived from the abundance of Narra tree in the area, graces the pages
of history books as one of the oldest settlements in the province that dates back to the 17th
century. Back then, this fishing and agricultural village was already perceived to become an
industrial hub due to its rich coal deposits.
When the Spaniards set foot in Naga, its trade relations thrived after the foreign colonizers
engaged in mining activities, hauled and transported coal via their Spanish Galleons to Spain.
The establishment of the then state-owned cement factory, now known as Apo Cemex
Philippines has also put Naga in the world map being a major exporter of cement to foreign
countries. Most of its locally-produced cement products were used to construct the iconic
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, USA.
But even before the Spaniards came, Naga already flourished as a civilized settlement
because residents from neighboring provinces were attracted by its rich fishing grounds and
the abundance of Tanbark, a natural wood product whose outer layers are removed and
used for leather dyeing or coloring process. The coastal village of Tinaan got its name due to
its dyeing (tina) industry.
Undeniably, the mining industry, the local cement production, the establishment of two
coal-fired power plants Salcon Power Corp. and Korean Electric Power Company (Kepco),
the Apo Cement Corp.-Cemex and other manufacturing firms spurred Nagas vibrant
economy and transformed this once sleepy coastal town into what it is today The
Industrial Hub of the South of Cebu.
Spanish-American Era
Historical accounts showed that the erstwhile Municipality of Naga was established
simultaneously with the parish on June 12, 1829 with Glicerio Canonigo as its first
Gobernadorcillo.
However, Canonigo, with the backing of his captain of the guards Marcelo dela Cerna, rose
up and led his constituents against the Spanish authority during the 1898 revolution. The old
Corro residence was also converted into a recruitment camp of the 73
rd
Infantry Battalion of
the US Army during Spanish-American War. Juan Mercado became the first Municipal
President of Naga during the American regime.
World War II
In World War II, Nagahanons, who were recruited to fight against the Japanese Imperial
Army, showed its courage and bravery when they fought side-by-side with their American
counterparts in the battlefields of Bataan and Corregidor. Hundreds of them sacrificed their
lives for the countrys freedom and even died as martyrs in the Bataan death march. Naga
ranked second to Macabebe, Pampanga as to the number of war veterans and pensionados
of the American Government.
Godofredo Mendoza was the first municipal president of Naga during the Philippine
Commonwealth. The World War II broke out when his successor, Emiliano Sayson took over
his post. Two others Antonio V. Repollo and Jose B. Quirante succeeded Sayson during the
Japanese regime.
Sayson got the chance to return to his old post until December 1946 after the American
forces liberated Cebu from the clutches of the Japanese Imperial Army.
The Mendiolas
On January 1, 1947, Philippine President Manuel Roxas appointed lawyer Reynaldo M.
Mendiola as the town mayor. During his incumbency, he spearheaded the institution of the
Naga Provincial High School now renamed as Naga National High School.
His younger brother, Vicente M. Mendiola, also a lawyer, assumed the post when Reynaldo ran and
elected as the Cebu Provincial Board Member in 1952. Vicente took a political respite when
Domingo S. Largo won the mayoralty race in 1964 but reclaimed his post when was re-elected in
1967. Vicente became the longest-running chief executive of Naga serving as municipal mayor for
more than 20 years from the early `60s until 1986.

OIC Ong

The bloodless People Power Revolt that ousted the iron-fisted rule of the Marcos regime
and catapulted President Corazon C. Aquino to power saw the appointment of OIC-mayors
in the country. This included the appointment of Naga Mayor Paulino S. Ong on April 15,
1986. Ong completed his full three consecutive terms in June 1998 since he was first elected
as municipal mayor in January 1988.
The Chiongs & Cityhood
Nagahanons experienced a new brand of leadership when Ferdinand Mendiola Chiong was
elected to the towns top elective post in July 1998. Ferdinand left a distinctive mark as the
prime mover of the cityhood of Naga.
Unfortunately, he never saw the fruit of his labor become fully ripe as he died while serving
his third and last term on April 03, 2006. His younger brother, Valdemar M. Chiong, a former
vice mayor, succeeded and served the formers unexpired term.
The assumption of Mayor Val was hailed as historic as he became the first city mayor
following the enactment of RA 9194, an Act converting the Municipality of Naga into a
component city, barely a year after. Nagahanons ratified RA 9194 through a special
plebiscite on September 02, 2007.
Former Cebu congressman Eduardo R. Gullas, who authored the cityhood bill, earned the
distinction as the Father of the City of Naga, Cebu. The City Government celebrates its
Charter Day Anniversary every 5
th
of September, which also falls on Mayor Vals birthday.
However, Naga encountered rough sailing when the 127-strong members of the League of
Cities of the Philippines (LCP) questioned the constitutionality of its cityhood before the
Supreme Court. Fifteen other new cities and Nagas contemporaries suffered the same fate.
Nagahanons exploded in jubilation after the High Tribunal affirmed with finality the
constitutionality of Nagas cityhood in 2011, more than four years of long and tedious court
battle.
Achievements
Through hardwork, no-nonsense leadership, transparency and good governance, Mayor Val,
who is now on his last term, has outstandingly proven his worth in steering this young
component city to new heights.
Under his Vision and Leadership (VAL) 20/20 program, the citys economic growth has
significantly improved the delivery of basic social services such as education, health care,
peace and order, sanitation and job generation.

Of the citys 28 barangays, 21 of these have already been established with national high
schools, making education accessible to young students in far-flung areas. Its scholarship
program for poor but deserving college students hires 100 new scholars per year.

Also, Nagahanon students will have no longer have to enroll in Cebu City-based colleges and
universities as the City of Naga extension campus of the Cebu Technological University
(CTU) will open during the next semester in 2014.

Among others, the citys major infrastructure projects include a new public Market, a Hall of
Justice building, a single span Arch bridge, a satellite public market, a modern
slaughterhouse and several new classroom buildings and well-paved road networks in
upland villages.

These new infrastructure projects have become added features to the already established
modern city hall complex, a new sports coliseum or the Enan Chiong Activity Center (ECAC),
the well-lighted baywalk park and a five-hectare material recovery facility (MRF) in Barangay
Pangdan. Its old sports complex has been converted into a Gaisano-owned supermarket
paving the way for the construction of ECAC.

The establishment of the MRF which recycles solid waste earned Nagas title as a full
compliant of RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which
outlaws the use of open dumpsite

For three consecutive years, the Bureau of Local Government and Finance (BLGF) adjudged
as an outstanding LGUs in tax collection efficiency of real property tax, besting all major
cities in Central Visayas.
Capping all these achievements is the Seal of Good Housekeeping from the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG). The award only proves the City Governments
outstanding performance in the fields of social services, economic development, fiscal
management and environmental protection.
With all these achievements, the dream of Mayor Vals late brother of making Naga a livable
and economically viable city has slowly but surely come to fruition.
We have achieved so many great things simply because we all work together under a
common objective for a better Naga, said Mayor Val in his 2012 State of the Naga Address.
gc