Mayor Carmelo “pogi” Lazatin Jr. has vowed to clean up the city, put its house in order especially in fiscal and resource management and delivery of vital services.
In his inaugural address, Lazatin said among his top agenda will be the realignment of funds from the construction of new city hall building and sports complex to Ospital Ning Angeles (ONA), medical benefits and additional classrooms.
“To prove my sincerity and my strong political will, I have ordered the City Engineer to suspend the construction of the new city hall building and the sports complex, which cost and burdened the city with a whooping P1.2 billion,” Lazatin said.
“The loan will be reviewed and the budget re-allocated to construct hospital rooms, new classrooms for the City College, and repair of the old city hall building, including parking area.”
Mayor Lazatin has also warned officers and employees of the City Hall and the ONA against shortcuts to advancement in their respective careers or to services at the City Hall.
“The (same) one strike policy will also be enforced to all City Hall employees, who are considered “rotten eggs” or those who are asking money for fixing permits, arranging discounts on real property taxes, fixing marriage licenses, annulments, adoptions and facilitating building permits,” said Lazatin.
Mayor Lazatin said just like his late father Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, he will not tolerate employees who are using their position to get grease money from businessmen.
“I will not tolerate employees who are using their position to get delihensya especially from businessmen with good standing”
Lazatin took his oath before Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Omar Viola. The mayor later on administered Oath of Office to comebavking Vice Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting and the 10 city councilors.
Present during the ceremonies are businessmen, barangay captains, teachers, NGOs, and representatives of various government agencies and and the private sector. Conspicuously absent is his brother Rep. Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin. He is said to be on travel that he can no longer cancel.
