By Artemio Dumlao (The Philippine Star)
BAGUIO CITY , Philippines – Cityhood for Bangued, Abra’s capital, is being given a push in the 16th Congress.
Bangued councilor Avelino Bello filed a resolution this week seeking congressional nod for the capital town’s cityhood.
With support from local officials, including Abra Rep. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos, the cityhood bid will be in the committee level of the House of Representatives when the new Congress opens.
If everything goes well, Bangued, with a land area of 10,570 hectares and population of 43,936, would be the third city in the Cordillera region after Baguio (1909) and Tabuk City in Kalinga (2007).
According to historical records, the word “Bangued” evolved from “bangan” or roadblocks or blockades which Spaniards put up to “protect” the town from locals who were against their occupation.
Old folk, especially in outlying towns, pronounce Bangued as “Banged.”
In 1692, Augustinians under Pader Columbo made Bangued an independent mission territory. Earlier in 1615, Fr. Juan Pareja organized Bangued as a mission center and baptized 3,000 Tingguians with the help of their chief, Manuel Domaoal.
The modern-day Bangued was formally organized in 1704 until it was decided to become the capital town of Abra in 1863. It has 31 barangays, seven of them in the town proper.
http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/07/13/964742/bangued-cityhood-pushed-congress
abrenian.com 
milking cow of IRA, the game is now begin. city IRA is how much
Posted by Gayyem | July 13, 2013, 6:27 ampag nag city. kawwa ang mga mamayan sa taxes. they will suffer. malaki nga ang IRA, sa bulsa nman nila yan mapupunta, tobtobbem manen ha amin nga kalsada
Posted by Gayyem | July 13, 2013, 6:29 amave value—–cra ulo ka rin..tuta ka ng mga kurakot na pulitiko
Posted by Gayyem | July 13, 2013, 6:30 amhirap na ngang magbenta ang negosyante dito sa bangued, gawin mo pang city kaagad, non sense-puro pera ang nsa utak
Posted by Gayyem | July 13, 2013, 6:32 amBangued City of taraysikels! hehehe
Posted by tarokoy | July 13, 2013, 10:51 amCity of killers and government thieves? What a shame? …..Wake up politicians…be sensitive and honest even just for this time. Do we really deserve this crazy City thing in spite of our unfavorable shameful impression that you could not only hear in our own Country but to any part of the globe as well? Think…think….amangan no katkatawaan da manen ti lik-likudan dagitoy politicians tayo. Ania wenno adda kadin iti maipagpannakkel tayo ta kayat tayon ti agbalin nga City? Makasarsarwaennak pay ketdin ti bain…..
Posted by diego silang, jr. III | July 13, 2013, 4:32 pmThere are only two reasons why local government officials want to file for cityhood – first, to get a higher share in IRA and second, to have the authority to increase property taxes. For ages, businessmen and residents of Bangued have been reeling from unabated increases in taxes. It is only fair that they get something back in the form of better services from the municipal government. Sad to say, even in the simple task of garbage collection, past and present mayors have been dismal failures. All of them, and I mean all of them never run out of alibis when confronted with the issue. Bangued is one big stink hole. You see uncollected garbage almost everywhere. At present, garbage collection is done only once a week. Business taxes are increased by 20% on an almost annual basis. Perhaps it would do well for Councilor Ave Bello to prioritize serving his constituents by way of giving back increased services rather than add another burden to the already over-burdened citizenry. If the objective of Councilor Ave Bello is to court the favor of the present municipal leadership, may I remind him that his sworn duty is to the people. The people of Bangued are sick and tired of seeing the taxes they pay go to waste because of unmitigated plunder. Kulang pa ba, Horrorable Ave Bello? I’m really sorry but honorable is not the word that leaps to mind when the people think of their leaders. The people are forced to pay through their nose the ever increasing business taxes every January and income tax every April only to see their leaders line their pockets with money that came from taxes already collected. These taxes must, I repeat, must go back to the people by way of services. Honesty and sincerity in governance are not mere suggestions, Councilor Bello. They are moral imperatives. Maawa naman kayo sa taongbayan.
Posted by pedro abreno | July 13, 2013, 8:08 pmTi ammok ket saan nga pagka city ang kailangan ng Bangued. Ang kailangan ay katahimikan at paglinga sa pangangailanganan ng mga mahihirap na dumadami bawat taon.
Kadagiti agtuturay nga ipanguluan ti mayor, ti kasapulan ket self respect thru honest governance and honest implementations of projects. Use properly of funds for general welfare is the grieving cry of the masses, not cityhood which has no sense with the present political and sicioeconmic condition of Bangued these days.
Posted by Amalakay | July 13, 2013, 8:41 pmCouncilor Bello cannot thank Mayor Dominic enough for including his name in the sample ballot that came with the 3,000 pesos so as a way of giving back, he filed the bill for cityhood. Tons of money were spent to buy votes and ensure victory, they cannot wait to get the payback. What the people of Bangued need is relief, not an added burden. The honor of being councilor lies not in winning by whatever means, fair or foul, but in deserving the title. It is both unfortunate and sad that Councilor Bello chose to serve Mayor Dominic instead of the people. If he had any decency and delicadeza left he should bury his head in shame. If all basic services are enjoyed by the people and if they see order in the way Bangued is governed, the clamor for cityhood will come from them. As it is, the only obvious thing people can see for the past several decades is the way officials of Bangued have enriched themselves in power.
Posted by pedro abreno | July 14, 2013, 1:03 amNagsayaaten ta addan to met lang isponsoran nga bill daytoy
Cong. Joy Bernos tayon idiay Congress ta saan lang nga graft
and corruption ken vote buying ti pakaidamdamagannan!
Posted by philam | July 14, 2013, 4:33 amAnia ngarud annak, gapu ti ayat ti kaaduan ti pirak, tay met para bilang ti alutiit ti nangabak! Vote buying case ayannan? Tay kunak, nagpipintas nga linteg ngem nagbalinda nga basura gapu ti Pirak.No maipaay lakoma ti pakipaayanna dayta nagadu nga PIRAK,awan met ket koma riribok ken rigat.
Aguray tayo manen t 3 nga tawen, bareng dagitay adda nonutna ken pusona kas kinatao da P Abrenio,Lavander, D Silang, River Cross, Geronimo t agcandidato. Ti rigatna ket buteng sa met ti lapped kagagit nanakem nga umili? Diay inaramidda diay Lagayan ti matulad, ngem ti last hour, agtitinulong danto koma met laing iti maymaysa, tay kapigsaan.
Posted by Amalakay | July 14, 2013, 6:32 amSakbay nga aramiden tayo ti ili nga Bangued nga city… damagek man no adda income na nga:
(1) P20,000,000.00 for the last 2 consecutive years
(2) 100 square kilometers ti teritoryona
(3) 150,000 ti population na
These are the requisites to become a city. Addamdamagak laeng apo.
Posted by george | July 14, 2013, 8:01 amGeorge, if the municipality filing for cityhood is the capital town of the province, said municipality is exempted from the requirements that you mentioned. Bangued is the capital town of Abra and therefore it is exempted from the requirements. George, there is pretty much nothing we can do if they want to railroad the filing of this bill. But it has to be submitted to the people of Bangued in a referendum where a majority vote is needed for the same to be passed. That is where we can do something. We can campaign for a resounding NO vote and we can make sure the balloting is fair and the true will of the people will prevail. By the way, the income requirement is 200M for the past 3 consecutive years. But then, as I said, that is water under the bridge because Bangued is a capital town.
Posted by pedro abreno | July 14, 2013, 4:30 pm1.nalaka la dayta P20,000,000,000 nga ipakita ti Bangued re last 2 years! ingato na ti taxes agatlalangit..tapos! lol!
2. 100 sq km nalaka lang. inayun na karayan kada pdigan tayum penarubia dendenen na idan. tapos
3. 150k population. nalaka pay. aggapo sabali nga ili. tapos!
kasta idta Abra. lahat nga kagaguhan nagagawa! good luck BAngued City! buisit!
Posted by mark | July 17, 2013, 8:55 am20 Million income for the last 2 consecutive years?
Adda met ngata koma no saan nga napokos-pokos. So, do you still need to file this cityhood bill Ms. Lawmaker? Baka katawaan na ka laeng nga pagkamalian nga diak ammo…..I still do care for the protection of your dignity..
Posted by diego silang, jr. III | July 14, 2013, 8:33 amBANGUED capital of ABRA bring groomed as a CITY intrigues me as an abrenio , Bangued born now residing in the USA.
BAGUIO as the SUMMER Capital City of the PHILIPPINES of the CORDILLERA REGION, declared as a CITY during the early American -Phil. relationship. It deserved to be called as a CITY>>>> Clean place , good local government ( HONEST – NO CORRUPTION), business enterprises thriving, social life acceptable to most, etc.
How can Bangued compare with the city of BAGUIO? Convince me that Bangued deserves to be a CITY?
DR. LEO
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | July 14, 2013, 8:03 pmCorrection please>>>>> BANGUED capital of Abra BEING groomed as a CITY…
Thanks… Dr. Leo.
Posted by DR. LEO TUASON. | July 15, 2013, 4:47 amFirst Class cities are not to be compared to newly aspiring cities. for as long as they can comply with the requirements it can be done, plus the majority vote of the people concerned. Palayan city in Nueva Ecija is lesser to Bangued in terms of physical make up like business establishments etc., but it became a city long time ago by virtue of their agricultural income and land area. Bangued to be a city is a kind of positive outlook of life. But the way people comments on the planned cityhood, I presume that they are not progressive thinkers but more on barbarism, lets us just say “bariotic” to be more humane.
Posted by naeling | July 24, 2013, 8:50 pmWill you please stop milking the Congresswoman or kissing her ass? It so obvious that you are just eying something for your own financial benefit. Do you want her to be looked stupid in front of her peers in the House of law-making (not project-making) again? And please don’t label or call us barbaric for it reflects every time you check your own “make-up”. Tell me, have you ever advised something legal, morale, or humane to her that the majority Abrenians were benefited from it? If so, could you please enumerate them here? Thanks…nice talking to you….
Posted by nauwing | August 3, 2013, 5:25 pmIntilo hmmmmm….ala kitdi ag city alud qma t buo nga abra., namy myat
Posted by Topac | July 15, 2013, 1:33 amCITY BANGUED KUMAM…DI NI HON. DOMINIC VALERA TI NAGTUGAW AHH MAYOR 2007 TO 2010 AWN PAY NAARIMID NA…DILANG AGPAPATAY TI AMMO NA….
Posted by PSD BANGUED | July 16, 2013, 5:47 amMAGISIPSIP KAU KAKAILAN TI BANGUED…. NO AGBALIN AHH CITY TI BANGUED KET TUMAAS TI TAX TAYO AMIN MAGATANG EN….
Posted by PSD BANGUED | July 16, 2013, 5:50 amDakkel ti panagduaduak no kabaelan ti ” madayaw nga congresswoman” nga ipresentar ken difenderen na daytoy nga gakat. Maybe she will solicit the service of somebody in congress to do the job. I hope I’m wrong, my apology!
Posted by Amalakay | July 16, 2013, 11:13 amBangued City? ngumina amin to magatgatang sigurado ngem dumakkel ti pondo na from higher taxes! mga tanga na taga Bangued! sorry…city useless nagrigat met biag tayo mga tanga! awan pay makitam dakkel wenno adu nga pabrika, manufacturing companies etc idta BAngued tapos CITY kunam…ay apo ti umuna nga aramiden yo ket tay ag invite kayo investors idta Abra tapno adu pagtrabakkuan daguiti Abrenios! saan nga dayta City! tanga! City awan met industrial income na! income ti Bangued ket from taxes isu nga nangato ti taxes tayo! GAGO! isu daytoy tay kungkuna da nga “ginigisa sa sariling mantika”. Kakaasi kay man nga taga BAngued! Ling et yo pagpuunan da! GAGO!
Posted by mark | July 17, 2013, 8:44 amAMALAKAY saan na nga kaya nga irepresentar a tlaga! no saan pay makapag Tagalog ti nasayod! lol Ilokannuen nan ton a no mabalin. mabalin ngata annia Apo AMALAKAY?
Posted by mark | July 17, 2013, 8:59 amtsehhhh!!!! agbibisin. awan ti city nga kasta?
Posted by lookdit | July 17, 2013, 4:39 pmhusto ta kunam lookdit- agbibisin. bangued city? awan pay opisina Pag Ibig Fund city ngarud? VFA kada NBI etc city ngarud? agpa baguio kada vigan k pay san frnando….buisit!
Posted by mark | July 19, 2013, 11:40 am“Yes For the Cityhood of Bangued”
it desrves to become a city because it meets the the 2 requirements in the way of becoming a city lke land area and annual income of the mun..as u cn see it blooming of businesses of this town..lets just support the cityhood for better and progressive BANGUED!!!!
Posted by Banguedenio | July 19, 2013, 8:06 pmAWAN TI PANUNUT MO SIKA BANGUEDENIO. AWAN TI GURAK NO AGCITY TA BANGUED NGEM TI NO. 1 NGA KITAEN TI OFFISCIALES KET TAY STATE OF LIVING OF MAJORITY OF BANGUED. TI IBAGBAGAM MET KET TAY ZONE 1-7…NARIGAT TO PAY TAY ADDA LA ABROAD NA MAKAPAN JOLIBEE ETC IDTA WENNO TAY AGTATAKAW TI KUARTA TI GOBYERNO WENNO COOPERATIBA ISU MAKITAK KANAYON JOLIBEE KEN CHOWKING! BUISIT! DAKAMI PIMAN AWAN TRABAHO NA TRICYCLE A SIDELINE2…
Posted by mark | July 20, 2013, 11:07 amWag mong isisi s iba mark kung d k mn nka2hnap ng trbho..kng wlng sikap wla tlgang asenso tulad nlng ng cityhood n sinusulong s kongreso!!! hndi n rin nmin kslanan kng dka nka2tung tong s jb o s ck!!!
Posted by Lester | July 22, 2013, 3:11 amnagado ti mapatang yo nga taga bangued,,,,,,,,,anyan to koman no tinakaw da ta kwartan, matay kayon!? haan yo nga ibaga nga agrigrigat kayon gapu kadkwadan,,,,apay ngarud makapost kay payla ti comments yo, adda met la gayam pang-internet yo!
Posted by DANAO DAVAO | July 25, 2013, 7:42 pmsika met Danao Davao nagalit na etching ko lang….naka wifi me sa office..lol
Posted by MARK | August 4, 2013, 11:14 amagtatakaw. saan k la makunsyaanen mangmangan kay pmilya tinakawan kakasi daguita ubbing away nga awan kankanen da ta tinakaw yo metten work and pull your muscles to earn money Davao Danao. satanas!
Posted by claire | August 8, 2013, 3:18 amLets Just unite as one for better Bangued and entire Abra..If some of us against for the better of Bangued how we reach our dream for progressive and better province so we must support the Cityhood Of Bangued for the sake of our own good..not just the leaders benefits of it were also Banguedenios or Abrenos..Lets fullfill our dreams be cooperative!! If referendum comes vote “YES FOR CITYHOOD OF BANGUED”
Posted by Lester | July 25, 2013, 8:57 pmUray pay met sika Lester maysa ka pay nga saan mo ammo ti ibagbagam. paris kay ken dayta Joseph idta baba basic mga utak yo!
Posted by LEO | August 4, 2013, 10:54 am“Yes for the Cityhood of Bangued” Bangued deserves to become the 3rd city of the cordillera and first city in Abra..The economy in Bangued is very healthy in the way of blooming businesses..Bangued is the center of commerce and trade of the province..I also heard that Puregold will be soon to rise on that place and more business to come soon for more employment of the people of Bangued and entire Abra..
Posted by Joseph | July 30, 2013, 6:19 amJoseph kasla ka metla agbasbasa ti speech mon lol! awan ti bearing na ibagbagam..please….read your book in college regarding bussiness management etc. For Abra to become city, the most important thing to consider is how to invite manufacturing and industrial companies to come Abra and invest. This Puregold that you are telling is retail company. People of Abra wish to have industrial companies that shall generate jobs and income for the people of Abra and improve the taxing level of Abra. Sus maryosep Puregold daw e no addan adda ngarud igatang ti umili no awan pagtrabakkuan da? sumungbat ka man? nagbasaam aya or absent ka idi?
Posted by LEO | August 4, 2013, 10:50 amI agree Leo.
I am not against to the movement for Bangued to become a city but let us be realistic and face the situation and not to add more problems on the existing problems that people in Abra are experiencing specially the poor- NO JOBS. Bangued is getting big if not whole of its income from retail and small stores etc and some numbers of average scale businesses and from individual citizens etc. There is no single industrial company in Abra. Poor Abra. Thank you.
One thing also, if Abra shall become a city, of course taxes shall become higher and funding from National Goverment too.
Posted by PETER | August 4, 2013, 11:07 amthank you. you said it right peter
Posted by leo | August 6, 2013, 7:54 amWhat ever the plan is..we must respect if the cityhood will succed for the sake of Abrenos..and for better Bangued and Abra!!! y we just unite as one for our own good!!!
Posted by Attorney | August 8, 2013, 7:29 amMr. peter and mr. leo. ur nothing..u just focusing on ur own good..both of u r selfish..Think first before u post on this blog..Who dont want to become succesfull in his life specially in his town..y we just support the cityhood bill of Bangued for us 2 mke more progressive in our life!!!
Posted by Attorney | August 10, 2013, 1:21 amNaipresent n kya ang 2nd reading niCong. Bernos ang cityhood bill ng Bangued sa Congreso?S pagpasyal ko jn s Bangued malki ang nki2ta kung potensyal nitong maging ganap na Lungsod..
Posted by Viganeous | August 24, 2013, 7:31 pmUpdate nmn poh s Cityhood Bill ng Bangued?umusad n kya ang proseso?tnx poh…
Posted by JM | September 22, 2013, 4:01 am