ANGELES CITY – “The passion to serve makes the city mayor an effective leader.”
Thus said Councilor Jesus “Jay” Sangil of the inclusion of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan in the short list of 25 mayors from around the world competing in the 2012 World Mayor Prize.
Sangil said Pamintuan “has the fire in his belly to serve after all these years in public service.”
“It didn’t surprise me that Pamintuan had been included in the elite list. The mayor is a leader who focuses programs that can help more people, especially the poor ones,’ said Sangil.
The World Mayor Foundation (WMF) named Pamintuan as one of the 25 finalists. He is one among the five mayors from Asia.
Mayors Sarah Duterte of Davao City and Alfredo Lim of Manila were initially included among the contenders but had been removed, leaving Pamintuan as the only candidate coming from the Philippines.
Sangil said he had known Pamintuan as early as 1985 and witnessed his “colorful and meaningful public service career.”
The three-term councilor stressed that “what I like most of Pamintuan is that he doesn’t leave his people, especially in times of crisis.”
Sangil said when Mt. Pinatubo erupted in 1991 and destroyed several areas in the city, Pamintuan “stayed around and helped revive the city.”
The human rights activist and lawyer first became mayor in 1992. He won re-election in 1995.
Pamintuan served in various capacities as with the rank of Cabinet member during the nine-year administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Sangil said Pamintuan had prioritized programs concerning community and public health, quality and affordable education and environmental preservation.
“With those three priorities for now, the mayor can never go wrong,” he added.
