The Deputy Secretary General of the House of Representatives has certified in a letter that, based on their records, June 18, 1938 was the date when the charter of Bacolod City was signed and approved.

Ramon Ricardo Roque said that, based on article VIII, section 54 of Commonwealth Act, the law will take effect upon its approval, and the date of approval was June 18, 1938.

Roque addressed his letter to Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who, in turn, submitted it to the Sangguniang Panlungsod through Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairperson of the Sangguniang Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government.

On March 27, 2012, Distrito conducted a public hearing regarding his proposed ordinance declaring June 18 as the date of Creation of Bacolod that was attended by Peter Uckung, the representative of the National Historical Commission, who affirmed that, indeed, the city was created on June 18 and not on October 19, which was the date of the inauguration of the mayor.

Uckung also said that President Manuel Quezon issued Proclamation 322 setting aside September 30, 1938 as the inauguration day of Bacolod which did not push through due to bad weather and this was eventually rescheduled to October 19, 1938.

The proposed ordinance was co-authored by Councilors Em Ang, Homer Bais, Dindo Ramos, Roberto Rojas, Al Victor Espino, Carlos Jose Lopez and Mona Dia Jardin.*CGS

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