THE lone congressional representative of Davao del Sur is seeking to convert the Municipality of Santa Cruz in the province into a component city.
“As your Congressman, I believe it’s time we take the next big step for Santa Cruz,” Davao del Sur Rep. John Tracy Cagas stated in his official social media post.
He said that the conversion will be one of his legislative agendas in the 20th Congress. With the full support of Sta. Cruz Mayor Jose Nelson Sala, he hopes to make it into a reality as a cityhood means bigger funding, better services, and more opportunities for every resident of Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz was founded in 1884 by Spanish authorities around 36 years after the founding of Nueva Vergara (now Davao City) in 1848. The town got its name when Spanish missionaries planted a cross under a shelter upon their failure to convert the natives in the area. Upon its founding, Spanish and other migrant settlers established plantations and ranches in the town.
In 1949, two towns were carved out from its wide area: Padada and Digos.
The town of Digos became the capital of Davao del Sur, after the undivided Davao Province was split into three provinces in 1967. Digos would become a city in 1998.
Rep. Cagas cited the economic status and potentials of Sta. Cruz as to the reason for its conversion into a city.
“Santa Cruz is not just the oldest town in Davao del Sur, it is also one of the most progressive. From agriculture to education, from eco-tourism to trade, our municipality has grown tremendously,” Cagas said.
The town is currently a first class municipality and plays host to several industries such as the San Miguel Beer brewery, Franklin Baker coconut processing plant, Southern Concrete Industries cement plant and part of the 300-megawatt Therma South power plant.
“If other towns have made it, so can we. Because Santa Cruz is ready, not just in spirit, but in substance,” Cagas wrote in his post. PIA DAVAO
