POLITICAL HISTORY OF DIPOLOG CITY MAYORS 

Dipolog’s political date with history began in 1834 when the Spaniards organized a civil government in Misamis Province and appointed Capitan, Dapitan native Don Domingo Ruiz.

From Ruiz, administrations had changed hands in stable successions: Martino Belarmino, who was popular by the name Maglinte, Francisco Magallanes, Victorio Gobune; another man whose name history record had as Toribio had his chance, followed by Venancio Narvaez, Francisco Orbita, Bautista Narvaez, Martencio Yebes, and Sabino Bengua.

The colonial government later changed tact, substituting “Capitan” with “Governadorcillo” and political subalterns known as Teniente Primeros, Segundos, Terceros and three Aguacillas for assistants.  A Juez de Policia with the Cuerpo de Policia or Quadrilleros accountable directly to the Governorcillo was formed, along with the Juez de Ganados, which has jurisdiction over agricultural estates and large cattles.

The Governadorcillos who had served the town were Andres Velasco, Juan Abendano, Juan Baez, Andres Yebanes, Martillano Barrios, Pedro Ruiz, Pablo Narvaez, Tiburcio Sorronda, Macias Velasco, Marcelino Zorilla, Cirilo Sorronda, Gabina Orbita, Santos Yebanes, and Bonifacio Posadas.

As the socio-political storm gathered strength for the Philippine Revolution, the clergy established Dipolog as a regular parish in 1896 and installed Father Esteban Yepes its first administrator in 1897.  Earlier in February 1894, the Catholic Chapel was renovated for the first time, on an altar designed by former Dapitan exile, Dr. Jose Rizal.

Around January 1889 the administrative designations reverted to Capitanes, and those appointed were Martin Fernandez, Tomas Narvacan, Eustaquio Cajocon, Simplicio Lacaya, Basilio Tabiliran, Maximiano Ruiz and Bruno Ordinaria, in the run up to General Emilio Aguinaldo’s campaign for national independence and the short-lived Philippine Republic in 1898.

During the two years, Aguinaldo led the country in a fragile arrangement with U.S. occupation forces; the Capitan was renamed Presidente Local, a delegado de Justicia and a Delegado de Policia.

Martin Fernandez was appointed Presidente Local in the year 1900, followed by Diosdado Mercado, Gaudencio Zorilla and Isidro Patangan as Presidentes Municipal between 1901 and March 1904.

Dipolog’s chance for the better came around 1910 when the US government recalled the militarist leaders from the Mindanao pacification campaign and appointed a 25 year-old civilian and Zamboanga-based John Helper, Secretary of Zamboanga Province.  Helper visited Dipolog for two days and visited its principalia and members of the Centro Catolico de Dipolog who later agreed to escort him in horseback.  On their way to

Dapitan via the old duct in Barra, they took a few minutes rest at the home of Don Jose Aguirre where Governor Helper was introduced to Pascual Martinez, Helper offered the job of Municipal President to the young Martinez who at first reluctant to take it.

Martinez went down from the Aguirre home and consulted the Centro Catolico, at the time the most influential organization in the Dipolog enclave over whether he should accept.  After being encouraged to accept on condition he should work for the upgrade of the barrio status, Martinez went upstairs and shakes the hand of the smiling Helper.

Two years later, the Governor of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, US General John Pershing granted the petition seeking the conversion of Dipolog into a regular town on condition that an administrative building be constructed within six months and an elaborate inauguration arrangements be made.  Two of the enclaves’ prominent residents and influential members of the Centro Catolico de Dipolog, Isabelo Echavez and Eleoterio Barinaga volunteered to raise PHP3, 000.00 and mobilize the needed materials for the project.  With the help of the association’s members and clergy, gangs of carpenters, lumberjacks and bricklayers from the nearby provinces of Negros, Cebu and Bohol were organized and a tight construction schedule was laid out.

On a full moon on a Holy Saturday in 1913, Fr. Gaudencio Bendijo conducted the cornerstone laying ceremony while a brass band played the Marcha Real.  The first Molave post was erected on the very spot where the main City Hall stands today, ad the work gangs supervised by Engineer- Architect Francisco Garcia, Roman Catholic Curate of Dipolog wrapped up the construction in three months.  The building tailored to the Western taste of elegance had concrete for foundation and ground flooring with space more than enough for four offices, two storerooms and a jail.  The second floor, with social hall at its center, housed six executive offices.

The inauguration was the limestone the town ever needs to inspire its own constituency, and the years thereafter saw it growing leaps and bounds.

On July 1, 1913 General John “Black Jack” J. Pershing, then Governor of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu, declared Dipolog as a municipality- a public corporation possessing corporate powers and juridical personality at the porch of the newly constructed Casa Municipal.  The playing of the Stars Spangled Banner immediately followed the pronouncement and the Philippine National Anthem played by the town’s band.  General Pershing also appointed Pascual T. Martinez as the first Municipal Mayor of Dipolog, under the American Regime.  He was later elected twice.  Two years later, the first special local election of Dipolog was held from Municipal Vice- President down to the five Municipal Councilors.

Paciano Ortega 1922-Ad Interim

A series of Administrators breezed through the illustrious path of leadership which were as follows: Paciano Ortega (1922-Ad Interim), Gaudencio Bendijo (1922-3 months only), Isabelo Echavez (1922-Ad Interim), Geronimo Gonzales (1926- 1927), Felipe Lacaya (1928- Ad Interim), Fermin Cagatan (1929-1930; 1946-1955), Geronimo Lailay y Zorilla (1931-1935; 1936-1937), Vicente Calibo (1938-1946), Pastor Bajamunde (1956-1959), Virginio Lacaya (1960-1963) and Felicisimo Herrera (1963-1969). 

Gaudencio Bendijo

1922 (only served 3 months)

Through former Congressman Alberto Q. Ubay, President Ferdinand E. Marcos on June 21, 1969signed into law, the Dipolog City Charter (Republic Act 5520) making Dipolog a chartered city effective January 1, 1970.  The signing was both historic and significant for it was also the launching of the Apollo11 that carried the first men to the moon.  This development made Mayor Felicisimo Herrera as the last Municipal Mayor (1963-1970) and the first City Mayor of Dipolog (1970-1978).  The first set of City officials was: Mayor Felicisimo Herrera, Vice-Mayor Roseller L. Barinaga, Councilors: Gamelin Sevilleno, Fortunato Manugora, Deogracias Hamac, Jr., Jose Villarinte, Jr., Alejandro Alferez, Jacobo Amatong, Narciso Barbaso and Pelagio Lachica. 

On June 1, 1978, then Vice-Mayor Roseller L. Barinaga assumed office as the 13^th Mayor of Dipolog after he was appointed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos, in major turning point in a career he thought was a bolt from the blue.  In two years he wrapped up with a sterling performance that made City Hall a development partner of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, presiding over strategy and goal-setting meetings that chartered the course of the city’s growth.

In 1980, he sought electoral confirmation for a pro-development agenda he had drafted in 1979 and won over political veteran Felipe “Buffalo” Azcuna by a margin of 6,000 votes.  Between 1981 and 1985 he presided over the implementation of strategies that brought the comparable better infrastructure, social services and fiscal management in bureaucracy of 750 executives and subordinates.  He emerged as an indispensable fixture in the city’s political landscape, obtaining PHP450 million in national government assistance for local projects and enlisting international support. 

The sudden winds of politics swept him out of office in the aftermath of the civilian-backed military uprising in February 1986 that drove President Marcos into exile and catapulted Corazon Aquino into power and made Dario Lacaya, then Vice-Mayor the 14^th City Mayor. 

Luis Paloma, then OIC Vice Mayor became the 15^th Mayor of Dipolog after he was appointed following the filing of candidacy of OIC Mayor Dario Lacaya for the 1988 polls.

While Mayor Roseller L. Barinaga to date earns the record as the longest serving City Mayor of Dipolog, Pascual Bajamunde, then City DILG Local Government Officer, holds the shortest record as the 16^th City Mayor (January 8, 1988) and (February 1, 1988) in a Caretaker Capacity. 

Barinaga staged a spectacular comeback in January 1988, in a two-way contest with OIC Mayor Dario Lacaya that appeared for most people, more of a choice between a conservative leader and a progressive one.  Piling up more than 5, 000 margin to prove he had better programs and astute vision for the city.

Seeking another confirmation of his development programs, he breezed through the 1992 local polls on a development continuity platform and chalked up 6,211 vote’s margin over 35 year-old Joseph Herrera, son of Dipolog’s first City Mayor.

To leave a legacy for other politicians to emulate, Barinaga started off with a PHP21 Million public market facility construction on a Build-Operate and Transfer scheme (BOT), earning for himself and his constituency the distinction of being one of three mayors who pushed for local government initiatives.  As if on cue thereafter, up to PHP225 Million in national government aid flowed in for key roads and bridges construction projects in the city, aside from PHP15 Million in school buildings, water systems and health centers for its 21 barangays and irrigation facilities.

From one initiative to the other after completing one more building for the Central Market facility in the heart of the city, he went to explore long-term investment areas outside of the commercial district and picked Barangay Galas host of another market facility.  

An apparently bullish business community matched Barinaga’s vision with one of their own in tune with the city’s investment promotions program, building up to PHP125 Million in new commercial edifices and taking a PHP75 million expansionist binge that somehow speed up the transformation of the skyline.  The real estate industry and its PHP115 million in fresh capital whipped up a storm over a need for land at a time City Hall promoted Dipolog as a sound investment haven.

Misunderstood by critics and under fire from political oppositions.  Barinaga emerged a tougher nut to crack under pressure and weathered a juggernaut most people thought would unmake all gains he has had after 12 years in the reins of mayorship.  He made off with a clean breast for himself in May 1995 local elections running again… this time unopposed for the first time in the political history of Dipolog.

With his motto: “SERVICE WITH A HEART”, Mayor Roseller Barinaga looks back with pride to 20 years as a politician.  And the city’s chief development architect who transformed Dipolog from a mere satellite trading center of Dumaguete, Cebu, and Ozamiz into a growing hub of trade and commerce at the threshold of the 21^st century saying “I share the people’s pains and joys on a personal level.  I help them solve problems not because helping was something, I think was the most logical thing to do for a politician.  I help them because I feel I should and feel good about it”. PICTURE:  MAYOR CHENG

Edelburgo Cheng, then OIC Vice Mayor became the 18^th Mayor of Dipolog after he was appointed following the filing of candidacy of Mayor Roseller Barinaga for the 1998 election. 

Meanwhile, the election of Honorable Roberto Y. Uy to the helm of the City Government of Dipolog has manifested an added bonus in our country’s industrial dynamo that has drawn in capitalists and industrialists under the touch of City Hall’s incumbents.  His presence in the Local Government Unit is a good piece of magnet to investors.

Quoting one prominent Chinese leader, “Let a thousand flowers bloom in the time of inspired reign of ‘change and progress,’ Mayor Uy’s battlecry and slogan.”

Fondly known as Berto, Mayor Uy assumed office as the 18^th Mayor of Dipolog City on June 30, 1998, and high noon.

As a private person, he and his family own a chain of businesses in the city i.e. fast food, restaurant, hotel, auto supply, photo-developing center, copra buying and others.  His marital bliss with Evelyn Tang has brought forth seven children, five boys and two girls.

His entry into politics was inspired by blessings from his parents, brothers, and sisters, coupled with his strong determination to be of service to his co-Dipolognons.

While his experience in the private sector and as OIC-Barangay Captain in Central Barangay has given him the wisdom and spectrum to face the challenges in public office, he has maintained his openness in heart and mind, and has shown eagerness to learn the basic tenets in public administration.

Noted as a God-fearing person, he sustained the low-profile personality and humility that has captured full support from his peers both from the private and government sectors earning their respect, trust and confidence.  His sacred commitment to work and service as one family regardless of creed, social standing and party affiliations, has brought to the realization of his administration’s primordial programs such as food security, agricultural productivity, and economic enterprise.  The 35, 000 trees of various species that have already been planted throughout the City’s reforestation sited since he took reigns as the Local Chief Executive, and the bi-monthly cleaning activity that made Dipolog City one of the cleanest cities throughout the country today.

For Mayor Roberto Uy, his commitment as a public servant is casting away partisan politics and to continuously move forward, in a manner that shall be compassionate yet firm; considerate yet honest; simple yet sincere.