THIS WEEK’S MILESTONES
Aug. 22 to Aug. 28
Aug. 22, 1951
The municipality of Liloy in Zamboanga del Norte (then part of the lone province of Zamboanga) was created through Executive Order No. 469 signed by then President Elpidio Quirino. It was initially composed of nine former barrios and sitios (subvillages), including the barrio of Liloy, from Sindangan town, also in Zamboanga del Norte. In 1959, Salug, one of its original barangays, became a separate town of the province. Liloy has 37 barangays as of March and is home to more than 42,000 people, most of whom rely on agriculture and fishing.
Aug. 22, 2019
President Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11400, creating a fisheries and aquatic resources center in Abulug town in Cagayan province. The research center will be supervised by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and will be funded by the national and local governments, according to the law. Fishing is considered the main source of livelihood among coastal communities in Abulug. There are some 15,000 hectares of fishing zones shared by 1,962 households, according to a 2014 report of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Aug. 22, 2019
The Pinsal Falls in Santa Maria town, Ilocos Sur province, was declared a tourist destination through Republic Act No. 11409. Under the law, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other concerned government agencies will prepare a tourism development plan that must ensure the protection of the site’s historical significance and conform to the ecotourism strategy issued by the DOT and the environment department. Pinsal Falls is regarded as one of the tallest waterfalls in the Ilocos region, at 26 meters (85 feet). It features a hot spring, a cave and natural pools, where tourists can take a dip.
Aug. 28, 1989
A historical marker for the St. Augustine Catholic Parish in Dumangas town, Iloilo province, was installed. Formerly known as Dumangas Church, the original church building was damaged by fire in 1628 and later by earthquake in 1787. Augustinian priest Fernando Llorente led the construction in 1887 of the present structure, which features a Gothic style, and was completed during the time of another Augustinian parish priest, Rafael Murillo, in 1896. Dumangas is home to some of the oldest churches built by Augustinian missionaries in the Visayas.
Canceled events: Due to the national public health emergency in relation to the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Sabutan Festival in San Luis, Aurora; and the Tsinelas Festival in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, scheduled between Aug. 22 and Aug. 28, have been canceled by the local governments concerned. Meanwhile, activities for the Manaragat Festival in Catbalogan City, Samar; the 84th Charter Day celebration in Iloilo City; and the Kalivungan Festival in Cotabato province, will be held online. Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research Sources: Inquirer Archives, officialgazette.gov.ph, Historical Markers (Regions 5 to 12), psa.gov.ph, riverbasin.denr.gov.ph, coa.gov.ph, liloy.gov.ph