Cityhood beckons to Mayor Teddy Tumang. Photo by Bong Lacson
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “Unfounded issues rehashed every election season.” Thus, Mexico Mayor Teddy C. Tumang laughed off allegations of graft and crimes hurled against him by a rival, saying he “would rather spend his time pursuing our next term’s development agenda.”
Expressing confidence that the “Mexicano voters are with me, and support me overwhelmingly,” Tumang said the development programs and projects are already set to commence upon reelection.
In a press conference at Dencio’s here Thursday, Tumang vowed that the “long overdue” conversion of Mexico from a first-class municipality to a component city will come to reality.
“We have already met the requirements to become a city such as LGU income at P500 million annually, population at over 179,000, and land area of 11,000 hectares,” Tumang said.
An added requirement of the seat of city government with a park, he said, will be addressed by the new 5-storey municipal building, along with a fully-airconditioned convention center, and new public market to be constructed on a six-hectare straddling Barangays San Jose Matulid and San Antonio.
“No, we will not borrow money for these. Walang utang dito. The LGU has on standby P80 million for the acquisition of the land,” Tumang said, noting that 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales is “a partner” in these efforts. Gonzales is running unopposed for his third term.
The allegations of former mayor Ernesto Punzalan that LGU will fall into a debt trap due to borrowings to fund the projects were further disproved by Tumang in the case of the new public market.
“We are in the process of finalizing a memorandum of agreement with SM Corp. whereby the LGU shall provide the land and the giant mall will put up the building and operate it for a period after which full ownership reverts to the LGU, Tumang said. “Again, walang utang dito. We make it clear in the MOA though that the first floor of the market will be the LGU’s.”
Tumang hastened to add that fears of accessibility to the new town center and its site as flood-prone are “totally unfounded.”
“A major bypass road will traverse the area, the NLEX (North Luzon Expressway) exit in Sto. Tomas town will also have a connecting road to the area,” Tumang said. “Of course, itataas ang elevation ng area.”
Tumang is running for his third and last term. This is his second set of full terms as mayor, having been Mexico chief executive from 2001 to 2010. He served as 3rd District board member in 2010-2013.
