(TO SERVE. City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago and Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin take their respective oaths of office before RTC 43 Judge Mary Jane Dacara-Buenaventura at the Heroes Hall Monday. Joining them for the occasion are their immediate families. Photos by Bong Lacson)
Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago and Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin, together with 10 other elected city officials in the recent midterm elections, formally took their oath of office morning of July 1, 2019 at Heroes Hall.
The oath-taking ceremonies, administered by Regional Trial Court Branch 43 Judge Mary Jane Dacara-Buenaventura, were witnessed by the family and friends of the officials, representatives from public and private sectors, barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials, and CSF-LGU department heads and division chiefs.
Santiago and Lazatin were joined by 10 city elected councilors including: BJ Lagman, Harvey Quiwa, Ato Agustin, Tino Dizon, Ariel Carreon, Cristina Lagman, Dein Henson, Nelson Lingat, Raul Macalino, and Reden Halili.
Santiago, since his victory last May, has been vocal about his existing and future plans and projects for the city, which he reiterated during his inaugural speech.
“Ito na ang pangatlo at huli kong termino bilang alkalde ng Syudad San Fernando. Ipinapangako ko ang pagpapatuloy ng mga programa at polisiya na ating ipinapairal at ipinapatupad sa ilalim ng ating pamamahala magsimula noong taong 2013,” he said.
Some of the mentioned projects under the current administration were the implementation of the Early Childhood Care and Development, free tuition fee under the City College of San Fernando, ease of doing business, support for micro, small, and medium enterprises, and specialized programs for different sectors, among others.
The thorough efforts of the government to finish the City Civic Center, one of the biggest projects to date of Santiago’s administration, was also highlighted in the speech, alongside other plans for the upliftment of the quality of life of Fernandinos.
“Sisikapin nating matapos ang buong Civic Center sa aking termino nang sa gayon ay may maiwan tayong de-kalidad na pasilidad para sa mga Fernandinos. Isasakatuparan din natin ang rehabilitasyon ng Old Public Market at ang pagtatayo ng city at eco parks,” he expressed.
With the help of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the whole CSF-LGU workforce, and public-private partnership, the local chief executive vowed for a Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG)-guided form of leadership as he ended his speech.
The official proclamation of all the city officials was conducted last May 15 at the Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall by the City Board of Canvassers.
