(Photos by Bong Lacson)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – In what could very well be her last official act as Speaker of the House, former president and outgoing Pampanga 2 nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo swore into office the newly elected officials of Pampanga, Saturday, over a full day before relinquishing her post. All the officials will assume their posts on Monday, July 1.
In her message during the mass -oath-taking rites at the LGC Event Center here, Macapagal-Arroyo thanked the people of Pampanga for their “unstinting support” to her family from the time of her father, whom she said as “the poor boy from Lubao who became President with the support of the Capampangan,” to her in her election victories in the Senate, the vice presidency, the presidency and finally the House.
This, even as she cited the programs and projects that benefitted Pampanga throughout her political career, with special mention of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, that she said served as a catalyst for development not only of the province but of the whole region.
She likewise hailed the Duterte administration for its impact projects in Pampanga, citing the circumferential road that will connect the fourth and the fourth districts.
The former president’s announcement that she would not be totally bowing out of public service with her designation as “consultant” of the provincial government was met with resounding applause.
“My focus will be the implementation of the Pampanga Megalopolis Plan aimed at making the province a counter attraction to heavily congested Metro Manila,” she said, noting that it was Gov. Lilia G. Pineda and herself that engaged the services of renown developer Jun Palafox for the plan.
First to be sworn into office was Gov. Dennis “Delta” G. Pineda, followed by his mother, now Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” G. Pineda, both taking the centerstage with their family led by patriarch businessman Rodolfo “Tatay Bong” Q. Pineda. In his brief inaugural message, the young Pineda thanked the people of Pampanga for their confidence in his leadership, vowing that he would continue the legacy of service in health and education of his mother, and expand to other programs for the total well-being of the Capampangan and the safety, security and progress of the province.
This, even as he enjoined his “fellow servants of the people” to unify their efforts for the sake of the Capampangan.
For her part, the outgoing governor also thanked her constituency for the opportunity to serve them for nine years, and asked the local officials to forget political differences and reach out to their rivals in the past elections for a peaceful administration in their respective localities.
Two other Pineda family members joined their respective peers in being sworn to office: former Lubao mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab as second district board member, and her successor at the mayorship, Esmie G. Pineda.
Pampanga’s members of the House of Representatives took their oath simultaneously: Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II of the 1st District; Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo of the 2 nd District; Auerli “Dong” Gonzales Jr of the 3 rd District; and Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc of the 4th District.
The members of the provincial board were sworn into office as one body. They were followed by the 19 municipal and two city mayors and their respective vice mayors and finally the members of the sangguniang bayan and sangguniang panglungsod.
The oath-taking rites were preceded by a thanksgiving Mass and apostolic blessing concelebrated by Most Rev. Florentino G. Lavarias, archbishop of San Fernando and archbishop emeritus Most Rev. Paciano B. Aniceto.
