ORDINANCE NO. 2024-008

AN ORDINANCE INSTITUTIONALIZING THE FORMAL START OF THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF THE CHARTER ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF NAGA ON JUNE 1 OF EVERY YEAR WITH WREATHLAYING AND COMMEMORATION RITES ON THE TOMB OF FORMER CONGRESSMAN AND GUERILLA LEADER LT. COL. JUAN Q. MIRANDA, THE AUTHOR OF R.A. 305 THAT WAS ENACTED ON JUNE 18, 1948 WHICH OFFICIALLY DECLARED NAGA AS A CHARTERED CITY:-

Authored by: Hon. Jose B. Perez

WHEREAS, on June 18, 1948, while in the presence of Senator Vicente Madrigal, Secretary Mariano Garchitorena, Rep. Tomas Clemente, and lawyer Antonio Ojeda, then President Elpidio Quirino signed into law House Bill No. 1255 authored by Rep. Juan Q. Miranda which effectively became Republic Act No. 305 that gave Naga its Charter;

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 305 proclaimed Naga as one of the few Chartered Independent Component Cities in the country;

WHEREAS, during World War II, Lt. Col. Juan Q. Miranda was the commanding officer of the Tancong Vaca Guerilla Unit that liberated Naga, not only once but twice, first on May 1, 1942 and again on April 9 until April 12, 1945 when he and his fearless men finally freed the city from the Japanese Imperial Forces such that when the Americans entered Naga, the Japanese soldiers had long gone as they fled towards the forests of Mt. Isarog and elsewhere;

WHEREAS, because of his patriotism, courage and exemplary civic duty, Juan Q. Miranda had been hailed by his grateful constituents as the Liberator of Naga and Father of its Charter;

WHEREAS, the body of the late congressman and guerilla leader was interred on June 1, 1985, or 39 years ago, in a humble piece of burial lot donated by Sto. Nino Memorial Park in Barangay Balatas, Naga City;

WHEREAS, Naga, in honor of its founding as a Chartered City, celebrates its Charter Day every month of June of each year with variant colorful and meaningful programs and civic and cultural activities participated in by various organizations and sectors, as well as students, that usually start at least a week before June 18, its actual foundation day;

WHEREAS, it would be fitting and memorable if the annual Charter Anniversary of the city would officially start with a wreath-laying and commemoration rites at the tomb of Representative and Lt. Col. Juan Q. Miranda in Sto. Nino Memorial Park and henceforth other relevant socio-cultural and civic programs and activities will follow leading to June 18 of each year, which is the highlight of the annual Charter Day celebration;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Naga duly assembled, that:

SECTION 1. TITLE. This Ordinance shall otherwise be known as the “Juan Q. Miranda Ordinance.”

SECTION 2. IMPLEMENTING OFFICE/DEPARTMENT. To ensure a meaningful and solemn observance of the death anniversary of the Father of the Charter of Naga who also led the guerilla unit that liberated the city from the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, the City Events, Protocol and Public Information Office (CEPPIO), in close coordination with the Committee on Culture and the Arts of the Sangguniang Panlungsod represented by its Chairman, and the uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police Office (NCPDO) of Naga City shall be in-charge of the preparation, program and actual implementation of the yearly event that will be highlighted with appropriate wreath-laying and commemoration ceremonies in honor of the former congressman and war hero;

SECTION 3. BUDGETARY REQUIREMENT. The amount of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) shall be initially sourced from the funds of the City Events, Protocol and Public Information Office effective on the first year of implementation of this Ordinance. Future budgetary requirement for the purpose of ensuring the smooth and successful holding of this annual event in the succeeding years shall henceforth be included in the annual budget to be appropriated at specific amount for the purpose.

SECTION 4. REPEALING CLAUSE. Ordinance, rules, and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. EFFECTIVITY. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

ENACTED: January 30, 2024.

WE HEREBY CERTIFY to the correctness of the foregoing ordinance.

CECILIA B. VELUZ-DE ASIS
City Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

JOSSELL C. ABIOG
Administrative Officer V Secretary-Designate

APPROVED:

NELSON S. LEGACION
City Mayor