CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Mayor Edwin “EdSa” S. Santiago is taking his leadership of this city to heart, literally.
Santiago told members of the media gathered at the Heroes Hall here on Wednesday that his primary task as mayor is “to empower the people” and to “have a system that is not only excellent but closer to our hearts.”
He said under his leadership, he established “women empowerment” and even strengthened senior citizens’ groups.
Santiago said he gave up his intelligence fund amounting to P7 million to the Peace and Order Council to prove his trust and confidence in the council which empowers them because they are charged with the all-important task of securing the city.
He also said under the mayor’s discretion were social funds “which I gave to the livelihood programs of the city managed by the Poverty Alleviation Council who decides who will be qualified as beneficiaries.”
“This is selfless service and leadership. Ibahin naman natin ang tema, puso sa puso naman (Let’s change the theme, heart to heart this time),” Santiago said. I am not saying that I am good. I am not the kind who pretends to know everything but I am better than the average person,” the mayor said.
“Nagagawa naman natin ang gusto natin (We can do what we want anyway),” he added. Santiago said he also believes in empowering the private sector that is why some of the projects of the city like the transport terminal in Barangay Sindalan will be constructed through the build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme or under the public-private partnership (PPP) program.
“The government should not necessarily undertake the plans because we can engage the private sector in the establishments of the foundations like the Boys’ Town, Home for the Aged, the YMCA and even the Senior Citizens’ Center,” he said.
Santiago said he believes that “the government should not be involving itself into something which has economic enterprise” that is better left with the private sector.
“Dapat private namu. Ing puhunan tana mu (our investment) is to protect the interest of the people through regulations,” the mayor said. Meanwhile, Santiago said he will seek re-election in 2016 “because I want to continue the programs that we have started.”
He said he will be doing a master plan for the city which will include short-term development of three to five years, and five to 15 years for medium- term development as well as long range development plans which will include a mass transit system, sewerage system, solar and wind power for energy, and engage in sustainable development or economic development that is conducted without depletion of natural resources.
“And we will let the people know that this is our direction so that whoever will be the next mayor will realize our good initiative and continue to follow it,” he said.
