Province of Batangas, Republic of the Philippines

Introduction

BRIEF HISTORY

Nested at the western side of the legendary and majestic Mount Makiling, Sto. Tomas is one of the oldest towns of the Province of Batangas. Established in 1666, the name Sto. Tomas was given by the Dominican missionaries in honor of St. Thomas Aquinas. The town contributed immensely in the pages of the Philippine history as it prides itself as the birthplace of the national hero General Miguel Malvar, the last Filipino General to surrender to the Americans.

Tomasinos, as its natives are fondly called, are deeply religious as manifested by the fact that all but four (4) Poblacion barangays out of its thirty (30) barangays were named after Christian saints.

ROAD TO CITY HOOD
Vision of the man

The journey to cityhood all began to the vision of the man, the late Armando C. Sanchez, who served as its Mayor from 1998 to 2004, and the Governor of the province from 2004 to 2007. Through his exemplary leadership, Sto. Tomas’ income classification vastly improved, from 3rd Class Municipality to 1st Class Municipality.

ROAD TO CITY HOOD
House Bill No. 04553
On May 2014, this grand vision for the cityhood of Sto. Tomas was put into motion with the filing in Congress of House Bill No. 04553, authored by then 3rd District of Batangas Representative Nelson P. Collantes. However, the Bill had its temporary setback as it did prosper in the House of Representatives.
ROAD TO CITY HOOD
House Bill No. 611

During the 16th Congress, on June 2016, Rep. Ma. Theresa Collantes filed House Bill No. 611 titled “AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF STO. TOMAS INTO A COMPONENT CITY OF THE PROVINCE OF BATANGAS TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF STO. TOMAS”. It was again put on hold, but was resurrected during the 17th Congress as House Bill No. 5160. And finally, the Bill was unanimously approved on the Third and Final Reading at the House of Representatives on May 2, 2017.

ROAD TO CITY HOOD
House Bill No. 5160

H.B. No. 5160 was transmitted to the Senate, and on May 8, 2017, it was referred to the Committee on Local Government chaired by Senator Sonny Angara and Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation chaired by Senator Leila De Lima. On March 19, 2018, H.B. No. 5160 was approved by the Senate on the Third and Final Reading with some modifications to the House’ version.

ROAD TO CITY HOOD
Signed House Bill No. 5160

At the Bi-Cameral Conference Committee, H.B. No. 5160 had a smooth-sailing as representatives from both Houses unanimously approved the Senate’s final version on July 31, 2018. House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the enrolled H.B. No. 5160 on August 29, 2018 and transmitted the same to Malacañang on September 9, 2019 for the President’s signature.

ROAD TO CITY HOOD
Republic Act No. 11086

And finally, on October 5, 2018, Republic Act No. 11086 commonly known as “AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF STO. TOMAS INTO A COMPONENT CITY OF THE PROVINCE OF BATANGAS TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF STO. TOMAS” was signed into law by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. 

But what initially believed to inevitable was again relegated to the sidelines as another political exercise began to unfold – the 2019 National and Local Elections.

ROAD TO CITY HOOD
Countdown to City Hood

And after the election fever subsided, and with its local leaders getting fresh mandate, the COMELEC finally set the cityhood plebiscite on September 7, 2019. And, thus began the countdown to cityhood.

And come the plebiscite day, all the hardships, perseverance and toils were transformed into ecstatic celebration and exuberance when the long awaited decision of the people of Sto. Tomas was announced.