Bangued cityhood pushed in Congress

BANGUED, Abra -- Cityhood for this capital town is being pushed after councilor Avelino Bello filed a resolution last week seeking congressional nod  for the capital town’s cityhood. 

With support from local officials, including Abra Rep. Ma. Jocelyn Bernos, the cityhood bid will be in the committee level of the House of Representatives when the new Congress opens.

If everything goes well, Bangued, with a land area of 10,570 hectares and population of 43,936, would be the third city in the Cordillera region after Baguio (1909) and Tabuk City in Kalinga (2007).

According to historical records, the word “Bangued” evolved from “bangan” or roadblocks or blockades which Spaniards put up to “protect” the town from locals who were against their occupation.

Old folk, especially in outlying towns, pronounce Bangued as “Banged.”