June 16, 2007: Paradoxically, its final closure happened at an astonishing moment when, though the terrain was extremely unfriendly, and there was a virtual unanimity of the thought that nobody could, the man at the helm simply said, "ICAN"

"Mayor Coefredo "Tekwa" Uy breached the prevailing local political culture when, filled with a sense of destiny, he passionately committed himself with one quixotic direction - cityhood. With a heart burning with passion to succeed he was able to inspire two young Turks: Vice Mayor Manuel Van A. Torrevillas and Councilor Art Sherwin L. Gabon to be bound to in the same cause. Then, they become the "Three Young Wild Horses" who took the cudgels in spreading the three-year roller coaster journey; their unrelenting sense of sacrifice, courage and faith, being the price they had to pay for their commitment. Their greatest reward is bringing to its fruition every Catbaloganon's Dream - Our Cityhood"


Chronology:


1969 HB No. 1867 was filed by Rep. Fernando Veloso "Creating the City of Catbalogan," and it was shelved in the senate.
1999 the journey was revived by Mayor Jesus B. Redaja and Vice Mayor Gerardo C. Teves, leading to the filing of HB No. 6346 by Rep. Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura in the 11th Congress. It was forwarded to the Senate but was unfortunately overtaken by the impeachment trial and EDSA 2 that unseated Pres. Joseph E. Estrada and the enactment of RA 9009 on February 24, 2001, increasing the income requirement for cityhood from P20M to P100M.
13th Congress, HB No. 2088, replaced later by HB No. 5998 seeking the conversion of the Municipality of Catbalogan into a component city sponsored by Rep. Catalino V. Figueroa.
Strong opposition from the League of Cities of the Philippines was poised giving way to HJ Resolution No.1 sponsored by Rep. Carmen Cari seeking exemption Catbalogan's exemption with 22 other LGU's, from P100M Income Requiment Cap.
The Resolution was finally resolved by the Senate, led by Sen. Alfredo Lim, Chairman Local Government Committee. Sensing that the race already the homestretch, the "Three Young Wild Horses" made its final gallop to push hard the approval of RA No. 9391 " AN ACT CONVERTING THE MUNICILPALITY OF CATBALOGAN IN THE PROVINCE OF SAMAR INTO COMPONENT CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF CATBALOGAN ."
Finally, on June 16, 2007 Plebiscite, the COMELEC officially declared her ratification into a component city after 95% of the 26,765 Catbaloganons made their loudest, historic scream saying: "YES TO CITY."