AFTER six months of suspension, Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. returned to office on Monday, January 10, 2022.

Punsalan led the Monday flag ceremony held at the Municipal Hall in Barangay San Agustin to start his service anew as local chief executive.

The returning mayor said his first order of business was to meet with department heads to get updates on the current situation in the operation of the local government.

“Magbibigay din ako ng aking mga marching orders, especially sa health lalo na at may Omicron variant na naman so ang number one concentration ay iprevent ang pagkalat ng virus,” he said.

Punsalan, meanwhile, enjoined fellow elected official and local government employees to be united in serving Simonians.

“Although nandito na ang eleksyon, nag-aappeal pa rin ako sa kapwa elected official at municipal employees na ibigay muna ang tamang serbisyo sa tao at hintayin nalang natin ang May 9 elections para makaboto,” he said.

Transferring the seat of government

Meanwhile, Councilor Dading Santos said the Municipal Council is set to work on returning the seat of government to the municipal hall in Barangay San Agustin.

It could be remembered that under the administration of then-acting mayor Leonora Wong, the seat of government was transferred to the Local Government Center in Barangay Sto. Niño.

“Ang goal is ipakilala ang San Simon sa mga tao, sa turista at investors o kahit iyong mga dumadaan lang at para magawa iyon, dapat ang munisipyo ay nasa along McArthur Highway at hopefully soon, makikita rin kapag dumaan ka sa NLEx,” he said.

Santos also assured the usual support of the Sangguniang Bayan to the programs of Punsalan, especially those concerning response against Covid-19.