The Sotto Clan of legislators’ authored cities and municipalities (Part 1)

The Sotto Clan in different eras produced legislators. During the election of the first set of senators in 1916 there was Filemon Yap Sotto, after World War II there was the younger brother, Vicente Yap Sotto. A son of Vicente by the name of Cesar (his eldest child) became Assemblyman of Davao. His grandson and namesake, Vicente “Tito” III became senator after EDSA. The Sotto Clan had the privilege of sponsoring the creation of towns and conversion of towns into cities. Don Filemon Sotto became the godfather of the creation of the town of Sikatuna, Bohol. Cesar initiated the creation of the town of Tagum.

The third generation of the Sotto Clan of legislators, Vicente III, who was elected in 1992, reelected in 1998, 2010, and 2016 and selected by his peers in the House of Senate in 2018 as its Senate President authored the following bills which became laws concerning LGUs in Visayas and Mindanao:

In the 9th and 10th Congress (1992-1998)

Western Samar:

RA 8335 : An Act Amending Section 11 of Republic Act 3279 otherwise known as “An Act to revise the Charter of the City of Calbayog” (Note: This amendment of the Charter of the City of Calbayog provided for the increase of numbers of the members of the Sanguniang Panlungsod by district).

RA 7896: An Act creating the Municipality of Sibunag in the Province of Guimaras.

RA 7897 An Act creating the Municipality of San Lorenzo in the Province of Guimaras.

Iloilo:

RA 8469 An Act converting the Municipality of Passi in the Province of Iloilo into a Component City to be known as the City of Passi.

Negros Occidental:

RA 8192 An Act converting the Municipality of Sagay in the Province of Negros Occidental into a Component City to be known as the City of Sagay.

RA 8297 An Act converting the Municipality of Kabankalan in the Province of Negros Occidental into a Component city to be known as the City of Kabankalan.

RA 8489 An Act converting the Municipality of Talisay in the Province of Negros Occidental into a Component City to be known as the City of Talisay.

RA 8488 An Act converting the Municipality of Victorias in the Province of Negros Occidental into a Component City to be known as the City of Victorias. (To be continued)