Tupas hails reclassification of 6 Fifth District towns as first-class municipalities

Congressman Raul “Boboy” Tupas expressed delight over the elevation of 14 municipalities in the province of Iloilo to first-class status.

Of the towns, six belong to the Fifth District of the province. These are Ajuy, Carles, Estancia and Sara from second-class and Barotac Viejo and Concepcion from third-class.

In a radio interview, Tupas commended the efforts of the mayors and other officials of the six towns to attain the first-class income classification.

The upgraded status, according to the Fifth District representative, is the result of hard work and dedication of the local officials to uplift their towns and the lives of their people.

The other towns that have been reclassified into the first-class category are Barotac Nuevo, Cabatuan, Leon, Pavia, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, and Tigbauan from second-class, and Dingle from third-class.

For a municipality to be classified as first-class, it has to earn at least P200 million (derived from local revenue sources that includes real property, business taxes, and other fees) for three fiscal years preceding a general income reclassification.

The province now has 21 first-class municipalities. The towns of Pototan, Oton, Miag-ao, Lambunao, Janiuay, Calinog, and Dumangas remain under the first-class classification.

The reclassification, which will take effect on January 1 next year, is based on Department Order No. 074, Series of 2024 issued by the Department of Finance (DOF).IMT