(Mayor Alice Pizarro)
PILAR, Bataan — The outgoing lady mayor of this town who did not seek reelection for her third and last term on Wednesday considered citizens getting closer to government as her outstanding accomplishment and legacy.
Mayor Alice Pizarro cited various infrastructure projects accomplished during her sixyear term but she set these aside, saying it was easy to recite such and such big projects.
“Those big and likewise important projects pale in comparison to people trusting government that civil society organizations swore, modesty aside, happened during my administration,” she said.
“For the first time, they told me, they were given attention.” The sangguniang bayan has accredited more than 15 organizations that received assistance from funds sourced by the municipal government from various agencies of the national government.
“These are existing organizations and not fl y-by-night ones. Funds are closely monitored and under scrutiny by existing requirements from the Commission on Audit,” Pizarro said.
She said the accredited groups were required to have plans so that their needs were prioritized and funds not gone to waste.
The plans are laid out and discussed thoroughly. “Here are the funds and so what has to be prioritized,” the mayor quoted the question asked of in the discussion.
She said that as much as possible she joined capacity building events of organizations. “I want them to feel that they are important to government that is serious to address their concerns.”
She said that it was during her term that three members from civil society organizations were included in the planning group of the municipal government.
“As members of the planning group, organizations know where funds of the municipal government go. Transparency is very important,” Pizarro said.
She did not seek reelection although she was eager to still serve her constituents and instead gave way to her husband Carlos “Charlie” Pizarro, Jr. who won overwhelmingly in the May 13 midterm elections.
Charlie served for six years as general manager of the Metro Bataan Development Authority after being mayor of Pilar for nine years. His wife took over and was undefeated for two terms.
