Calaca now a city

The municipal plebiscite board of canvassers of Calaca, Batangas disclosed the cityhood of the once-first class municipality and the proclamation was witnessed by Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia, commissioner Aimee Ferolino, Calaca Mayor Nas Ona, First District Representative Eric Buhain and former Congresswoman Eileen Ermita-Buhain.

A total of 29,424 voted yes while only 3,781 voted no during the plebiscite which had the question "Are you in favor of the conversion of the Municipality of Calaca into a city of the Province of Batangas to be known as the City of Calaca pursuant to Republic Act 11544 also known as charter of the City of Calaca?"

The mayor stressed that the development of Calaca can now be felt faster because of its cityhood.

"All this we will work hard to achieve. It is not overnight or cannot be obtained for a term. This is continuous work," Ona said, adding that now that Calaca is a city, the local government unit fund will increase.

"More funds, more financial capabilities. That means more programs and projects for our Calacazens," Ona said.

Ona's first act as mayor will be to register Calaca with the International Association of Character Cities, which he claims will teach and restore moral values to the people of Calaca.

"The foundation of being a truly patriotic and selfless Calaca will be restored and strengthened," said the mayor.

Calaca is the fifth city in Batangas, and the first city in the First District of the province. It was followed by Santo Tomas in becoming a city in 2019. The three other cities in Batangas are Tanauan, Lipa and the capital Batangas City.

Calaca was used to be barrio of Balayan. It was incorporated as a town on 10 May 1835. Don Rufino Punungbayan was the municipality's first Gobernadorcillo from 1835 to 1836.