General Santos City’s 50th Charter Anniversary a Non-Working Holiday

General Santos City is celebrating its 50th Charter Anniversary on June 15, 2018.  The charterhood anniversary used to be held every 5th of September instead, to commemorate the visit to the city on September 5, 1968, of then President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Jr., weeks after he signed the declaration officially renaming Municipality of Rajah Buayan in honor of General Paulino Santos, Sr.

The official declaration of the cityhood was actually signed on June 15, 1968 by President Marcos but it had become a tradition to celebrate the anniversary on September and the local government even created the now famous Tuna Festival to go with it.

Thankuflly, last year, the administration of incumbent General Santos City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera saw it fit to rectify this oversight and set the City Charter Anniversary to its rightful date, which is June 15.

The Tuna Festival will continue to be celebrated however, on September 5 annually.

In line with this, Malacañang has declared Friday, 15 June 2018 a Special (Non-Workind) Day in General Santos City via Proclamation No. 503.  The proclamation was signed by Acting Executive Secretary Michael Ong.

Happy 50th Charter Day, generals!!