Dad to propose moving Araw ng Dabaw to Mar 1

DAVAO City Councilor Melchor V. Quitain, Jr. seeks to file a resolution that will address the Congress to consider amendments of the date of the Araw ng Dabaw from March 16 to March 1.

Quitain, during the Pulong-pulong ni Pulong media forum, said that his committee has conducted research of resolutions enacted since 1960S where they found that during fourth or sixth Council then Mayor Elias Lopez passed a resolution declaring March 1 as Araw ng Dabaw interchangeably coined as the Foundation Day.

"In the 1970s, 1972 or 1974, the late councilor Advincula passed a resolution why don't we celebrate Araw ng Dabaw on March 16 , according to him for only that year 1974, but in the existing resolution will be on March 1," he said.

Quitain also said that in 1990s the Congress enacted March 16 as the Araw ng Dabaw.

"As between the ordinance of Mayor Elias Lopez, and the Republic Act, the republic act would prevail," he said.

"My aim really is not pass an ordinance to overturn the Republic Act, I just want to make a resolution urging the Congress of the Philippines to reTHE

examine the Republic Act and probably they will agree on the findings of my committee that the Araw should be on March 1,” Quitain said.

He added that markers at the City Hall would reveal that the city was created on March 1 and he also heard from the City Tourism's office that whenever visitors tour around the city they would get curious and ask why the city is celebrating its foundation on March 16 when the markers especially at City Hall declares March 1 as the official foundation day.

"I just want to set the record straight. Sometimes, history, if it is not passed correctly it becomes distorted, kasi if we go to school we are taught about the history of the Philippines and not the history of Davao," Quitain said.

He said he intends to present his committee report on the item in the next session.