MABALACAT -- Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales said Wednesday that the move to transform the municipality into a component city is hoped to be realized before the 2010 polls.

This is following the cityhood bill filed by first district Representative Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin.

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

Morales told Sun.Star Pampanga that the House of Representatives is set to hear the bill on November 11.

He made the announcement just after the launching and inauguration of Hausland’s Fiesta Communities in this town where some 400 members of the Mabalacat Government Employees Association would be given easy-own options in the development project in a 2-hectare site.

“What we would want really to happen with all the accessibility of Mabalacat, especially with the prospective influx of investors is for it to become a first class city now in the likes of Makati. With thev influx of migrants and workers from other areas, we see the need for housing and other developments that could be only achieved through cityhood,” Morales told Sun.Star Pampanga.

He added progress for Mabalacat is inevitable and that the Municipal Government is bound to absorb the social costs of developments and the need for shelter as well as education, healthcare and job demands.

“Isasama natin ito sa cityhood natin and as far as our cityhood is concerned, we are very qualified to become one. In fact on November 11 we have a hearing in Congress regarding this as filed by Congressman Tarzan Lazatin. And hopefully, before the elections in 2010 ay lungsod na ang ating bayan kaya we have to be prepared. Amd with support of our constituents and the National Government plus our political will, it can be done” Morales said.

He added that he would take up the challenge posed before him by Vice-President and housing czar Noli De Castro to extend the Clark Freeport to Mabalacat and build a central business district there.

“It will be a combination of industrial, agricultural and commercial, zones that we will put up here eventually. This would be my legacy to Mabalacat even if I am not mayor anymore. We will lay down the foundation. And the leaders who will follow me will continue these because I am certain they can and they will happen,” Morales said.