MABALACAT CITY – Contrary to rising speculations here, next year’s elections will not be a walk in the park for re-electing Mayor Crisostomo Garbo.
While deafening silence remains in the camps of perennial “mayorables” former long-time Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales and 2019 mayoralty also-ran former Vice Mayor Christian Halili, a stirring cry emanated over the weekend from Barangay San Francisco – Deng is running for mayor.
Veteran broadcaster Diosdado “Deng” T. Pangilinan has officially announced his intention to run as an independent for the city mayoral post.
Pangilinan, in a post in his social media page, vowed “to end corruption, pursue public accountability and transparency,” even as he cited the over-a-billion-peso revenue of Mabalacat City “that should have been infused in its socio-civic and economic development.”
With an annual budget of P1.7 billion, which is around the proximity of the Angeles City budget, Pangilinan said he can implement impact projects that will benefit residents of Mabalacat.
“Napakalaki po ng pondo ng Mabalacat City. Kung ito po ay gagastusin sa tamang paraan, marami po sa ating mga kababayan sa Mabalacat City ang ating matutulungan,” said Pangilinan.
He noted that amid the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, it is imperative to implement a no-nonsense health program that will also support business and education continuity programs.
“Marami pa po sa ating mga kababayan sa Mabalacat ang hindi nababakunahan. Kailangan po na ipagpatuloy natin ang makabulihang vaccination program,” Pangilinan saids.
Among others, Pangilinan has vowed to pursue the following programs: Streamlining of the business registration system, peace and order, eradication of poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality, reduce child mortality, protect maternal health, combat Covid-19, HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability, disaster preparedness and management, develop global partnership for growth and development, implement programs, projects and activities (PPAs) that are affordable and doable within a short time frame, strategic alliance and partnership with NGOs, private sector, and volunteers to provide livelihood and other skills trainings, assure socio-economic sustainability, strong and harmonious executive-legislative relationship and public accountability.
