NAGBUNYI si Senador Loren Legarda matapos ipasa ng Senado sa ikatlong pagbasa ang panukalang naglalayong maging isang special non-working holiday ang Agosto 5 sa Anini-y, Antique.
Paliwanag ng senadora, mahalaga ang pagkakaroon ng pagdiriwang sa naging pag-unlad ng naturang bayan.
“For the Municipality of Anini-y, self-identification is a declaration of strength that is anchored in heritage, and a shared vision to become a peaceful, thriving tourism hub with an empowered community, committed to sustainability, good governance, and inclusive growth,” ani Legarda.
“The act of self-identification is fundamental to the life of any community. It is through this shared understanding, as a people shaped by common history, place, values, and aspirations, that we find meaning in our struggles, direction in our development, and unity in our collective journey,” dagdag niya.
Naging ganap na bayan ang Anini-y noong Agosto 5, 1949 noong nilagdaan ni Pangulong Elpidio Quirino ang Executive Order No. 253, na naghiwalay sa bayan mula sa Dao, na ngayon ay Tobias Fornier.
Ang Anini-y, ang pinakatimog na bayan ng Antique, ay naunang maging bayan bago maging arabal o satellite community o ng Dao.
Pinagsama ang Dao at Anini-y noong 1903 sa pamamagitan ng Philippine Commission Act No. 961 noong panahon ng rehimeng Amerikano sa bansa.
Naghain naman ng counterpart bill sa Kamara sina Antique Representative AA Legarda at Coop-NATCCO Partylist Representattive Felimon Espares.
“More than a legal commemoration, this annual celebration reinforces local identity, pride, and unity among the people of Anini-y,” pagtatapos ng senadora.
Si Senator JV Ejercito ang principal sponsor ng House Bill No. 7005 bilang Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Local Government.