‘Ninong’ vows to unseat incumbent mayor

STO. TOMAS – Former Mayor Romeo “Ninong” Ronquillo said Tuesday he is ready to unseat incumbent Mayor Joselito Naguit.

Ronquillo said he decided to run for mayor in 2013 “to free the town from irregularities” which according to him “had compromised the delivery of programs and other basic services to the people of Sto. Tomas."

“Alam mo noong una wala naman tayong planong  tumakbo. Masaya na sana tayo bilang negosyante lamang pero nitong mga nagdaang buwan nakita natin na hindi na maganda ang itinatakbo ng ating bayan. At tayo ang nakikita ng taongbayan na alternatibong kandidato,” he said.

Asked about his plans for Sto. Tomas, he explained that the safety of the people is first on his list.

Ronquillo claimed that the municipality was caught unprepared with the recent flooding, which resulted in the death of some residents, damage to properties and inconvenience to business operations.

The flooding was later blamed on  illegal quarry operations conducted within the perimeter of the damaged San Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin Tail Dike and nearby areas.

“Uunahin natin na mag-invest sa mga heavy equipments para may magamit tayo sa panahon ng kalamidad. Magsasagawa tayo ng massive desilting activity sa Federoza at ibang pang ilog natin,” he stated.

Ronquillo also plans to institutionalize the provision of free maternal health care among residents.

“Titiyakin natin na ligtas ang ating mga nanay na nagdadalang tao at sikapin nating libre na ang panganganak nila,” he said.
Also included in his list of priorities are the completion of unfinished barangay roads, education for poor but deserving students, rehabilitation of the public cemetery, additional benefits for senior citizens among others.