SAMAL, Bataan- Mayor Generosa M. Dela Fuente of this town vowed to give no room for corruption and to wage war on poverty in her State of the Municipality Address (SOMA) on Tuesday night.
“Lalabanan po natin ang anumang sistema na magbubukas sa anumang uri ng kurapsyon sa ating bayan at gigibain natin ang pader ng kahirapan na kumukulong sa marami nating mamamayan,” she said.
The mayor promised of moving forward a new Samal that is orderly, peaceful and full of hope towards a bright future.
Supporters of the lady mayor described her as “Liwanag ng Samal.” Dela Fuente lovingly called as Mayor Gene gave more credit to her faith in God and to the Samal folk themselves as her effective weapons to fulfil her pledges and in facing the giant challenges she has to hurdle everyday as local chief executive.
“Like the proverbial David facing Goliath, Mayor Gene courageously trudges towards changing the face of the 4th class municipality,” department heads in the stunning kapis-adorned municipal hall said. Her strict but motherly standards have pushed village councils in 14 barangays and every department of the municipality to strive in giving the best service possible to the residents.
Proofs are the numerous awards received by Samal including the coveted Seal of Good Housekeeping and Most Child-Friendly Municipality citations, among so many others. Mayor Gene has commended departments for bagging the 1st Place in the Extra Small Category for Best Performing Local Civil Registry Office in the Philippines for 2013 and a regional citation for the Best Performing Municipal Social Work and Development Officer.
She launched the first-ever Liwanag ng Samal Award for Best Managed Barangay in partnership with the Provincial Government of Bataan. Projects worth P1 million and P45,000.00- worth of cash prizes were presented to three barangays that performed best based on the Barangay Governance Performance System, Functionality on Barangay Based Institutions, Barangay Ordinances/ Resolutions Enacted and Reportorial Requirements.
Gov. Albert Raymond Garcia assisted the lady mayor in presenting the awards and handing out the prizes.
Assessment of winners was conducted by the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO) of the Department of Interior and Local Government. Citations and recognitions were given out to outstanding municipal government heads, punong barangays and school principals for devotedly and commendably performing their respective duties and for their sincere and utmost cooperation in the programs of the local government unit.
Outstanding people’s organizations were also given citations. The governor congratulated all awardees for their exemplary performance and gladly mentioned that it is one of the most significant events that every LGU should do to encourage and empower public servants to pursue outstanding performances.
Mayor Gene expressed her gratitude to all awardees for their invaluable contributions in the over-all programs of the municipal government. She also cited efforts of those concerned further engaged the municipality as a whole to be recognized in the regional and national levels in terms of local governance performance.
With her usual wit and charm, Dela Fuente presented in the SOMA to her kababayan the municipality’s true status, receiving much applause and appreciation. “We are hopeful and confident that the present administration is doing its very best to uplift our living condition,” a group of farmers and fishermen said.
