Malacañang has declared June 20 a special non-working day here for the celebration of the city’s 75th founding anniversary.
“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the city of Dagupan be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies, subject to the public health measures of the national government,” Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said in Proclamation No. 1398 issued on Friday.
A wreath-laying activity will be held at the Eugenio Perez Shrine to honor the late Speaker of the House of Representatives, to be followed by a commemorative program.
Perez authored Republic Act 170 which was signed into law by President Manuel Roxas on June 20, 1947, making Dagupan a chartered city.
During the Japanese occupation prior to the city proclamation, Dagupan was chosen as the provincial capital of the newly-established Japanese government, according to the official website of the city government of Dagupan.
“At the start of the Liberation of the Philippines in 1945 by the Allied Forces, the U.S. Sixth Army under General Walter Kruger took part in a massive amphibious assault operation to recapture Luzon from Japanese Forces. Amphibious landings were made along the length of the Lingayen Gulf on beaches at Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan, and San Fabian. The U.S. land forces were under the overall command of General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander-Southern Pacific Area. After the assault and with the beach head secured, Gen. MacArthur set up his Luzon headquarters in Dagupan to consolidate preparations for the U.S. Army’s push south to recapture and liberate Manila,” it added.
Source: Philippines News Agency
