Vice mayor vows to continue 'magsilbi' programs

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Vice Mayor Edwin Santiago vowed Monday evening to continue the programs and projects of the "Magsilbi Tamu" team of outgoing Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and plans to "add more" services and focus areas to the current eight-point agenda.

Santiago, the erstwhile "anointed mayor" of the Rodriguez camp, told Sun.Star Pampanga after the formal launch of The Outstanding Fernandino Awards that he will continue what the returning congressman started -- a challenge he will heed, he said, when the mayor urged the next administration to "not let the gains from 2005 to 2012 to waste."

"Definitely, we will continue the programs and projects started by our Mayor Rodriguez. There is nothing wrong with them but I envision additional programs that will benefit Fernandinos. Kay Mayor Oca, abot-kamay ang serbisyo. Sa atin, if given the opportunity, mas gagawin pa nating abot kamay," said Santiago.

He told Sun.Star Pampanga that in heeding the challenge, he would stand by the institutionalized processes and sustain and improve systems that may need to be strengthened.

"We could gain more headway in health and education. We now have the City College and we could bring this down to the barangays by way of more grants and scholarships. It will remain number one in the agenda, together with more focus on health," said Santiago.

He added that much has been accomplished the past years that needs to be maintained.

"We need to continue instilling those reforms and culture initiated and achieved by the current administration. Definitely, we will do just that as we stand up to the challenge of bringing in more benefits for our fellow Fernandinos," Santiago said.