CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – With a promise of “inclusive governance,” Vilma B.Caluag took her oath of office as mayor of this city – the first-ever woman to take reins of Pampanga’s capital – on Friday at the Heroes Hall here.
Judge Mary Ann Rivera administered the oath in the presence of the mayor’s family led by husband Melchor, fellow newly-elected officials, city department heads, and representatives from public and private sectors.
In her inaugural address, Caluag adumbrated the agenda she is set to pursue, bannering good governance, universal health care and wellness, and education, along with planned programs on environment, livelihood, social welfare, and infrastructure, among others.
Summing all up with the battle cry of her administration: “Fernandino Ka, Kayabe Ka,” the assurance to all sectors, especially those in the peripheries, of inclusivesness in the growth and development of the city.
“Agkatan kula pu ring Fernandinos a pisaupan-saupan taya ngan pu ini bang apagmasusian taya ing bayung San Fernando. Italakad taya pu ing gobyernong mamye pag-asa karing Fernandinos. Ali kayu paylakwan, makyabe tana ngan at umpisan tane ngeni. Fernandino Ka, Kayabe Ka,” she declared.
Joining Caluag during the inauguration and oath-taking were Vice Mayor Benedict Jasper Simon R. Lagman and councilors Brenz Gonzales, Rosalie Mendoza, Ricky Hizon, Reggie David, Cristina Lagman, Ato Agustin, Angel Wijangco, Ayzel Macalino, Redentor Halili, and Rosemary Calimlim.
Caluag garnered a total of 57,486 votes in the May 9 elections. She was incumbent barangay captain of Dolores and president of the city’s Liga ng mga Barangay, making her an ex-officio member of the sangguniang panlungsod. The Caluag family is engaged in diversified businesses that cater to healthcare, the academe, hospitality, and trading.
The Caluag couple are consistent top taxpayers of the city. Following their oathtaking rites, the officials received a prayer of blessings by the Catholic Church represented by Sto. Niño Parish priest Rev. Fr. Joseph Mary Bacay.
In an earlier turnover ceremony, outgoing Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago underscored to Caluag that apart from the turnover of seat of authority, it’s the bureaucracy and the Fernandino children that he wants to handover to the new administration.
“Sa atin pong panunungkulan, nakapagtatag tayo ng isang malakas na bureaucracy – na nagresulta sa episyente, mabilis, at malinis na paggawa ng mga
programa. At dahil naniniwala tayo na ang mga bata ang salamin ng bukas, naging prayoridad po natin sila. Ang mga ito po ang handog natin sa susunod na mga opisyal,” he said. CSFP-CIO
