Mayor Morales shows a copy of the Comelec’s official declaration of Mabalacat as a city. Photo by Ric Gonzales
MABALACAT CITY – “We are now in the major league and must act as such. We will get the services of more professionals to better deliver basic services.”
Thus said Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales when asked about his initial plans after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared the 300-year-old town a component city last month.
Morales announced that he will hire former Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) Vice President for Business Development and Operations and Punto Central Luzon columnist Romeo Dyoco Jr. as one of his consultants.
“We hire more experts in public administration to improve the fiscal management of the new city,” said Morales.
He said that fees at the Mabalacat Community College and birthing stations will be shouldered by the city government.
Morales said they expect an additional P250 million income in the next few years. He added that the budget of the city was more than P500 million for 2012.
The additional income, said Morales, will be largely spent for infrastructure projects and their priority program on health and education.
Morales said he will make a point to rehabilitate the roads in all their 27 villages.
“We will improve further the image of Barangay Dau as center of business in Mabalacat. We will beautify the place to attract more investors,” he added.
Morales urged his constituents to cooperate in bringing out “more positive changes in the city.”
