Liloan on Road to Cityhood

Liloan, a first class municipality 18 kilometers north of Cebu City, is on the verge of becoming a city in the next three to five years.

Liloan Mayor Vincent Franco Frasco said his dream of the municipality becoming a city may be realized because Liloan has experienced an “economic boom” in the past few years.

Frasco attributed the town’s economic growth to the private sector’s contribution, especially real estate giants like AboitizLand and Ayala Land that have invested in the area.

Retail chain Gaisano Grand on Wednesday opened a mall in the town, just a stone’s throw from the municipal hall.

Frasco said he is also in talks with a developer, who is interested in building a hospital in Liloan.

Frasco said the town’s annual income has grown from PHP9 million in 2007 to PHP85 million this year.

But Frasco said Liloan needs to have an annual income of PHP100 million and a population of at least 150,000 to become a city.

Liloan has at present a population of 115,000, with a projected growth of five percent a year.

Cebu has eight cities, namely, the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Danao, Naga, Carcar and Toledo.

If Frasco’s dream is realized, Liloan will be the ninth city in Cebu. (PNA) LAP/EB/RSM