NEWLY-ELECTED Mayor Abundio “Jun” Punsalan, Jr. of San Simon town, Pampanga vowed for transparency and reform as he is set to lead this agri-industrial town into further development.
Punsalan, who was officially proclaimed victor in this town’s mayoralty race after defeating returning Mayor Rodrigo “Digos” Canlas by a slim margin of 144 votes, said that he will be opening the local government to all Simonians to ensure the efficient delivery of public service.
“I will be transparent. My office and the whole municipal hall will be open to the people. There will be no discrimination, especially members of the marginalized sector because I believe that good governance is never selective,” Punsalan said.
He added that he will also be improving the existing social programs of the local government, particularly by increasing the number of indigent but deserving students, additional employment and livelihood opportunities to Simonians.
The mayor-elect also said that he will be inspecting the existing industrial factories along the Quezon Road here to ensure that they are compliant to the building and environmental codes, among others.
“I am not anti-progress. I am also a businessman and I assure them that they will not be shooed away as long as they follow all the rules. I will particularly check the drainage and sewerage systems because that is one of the major concerns of Simonians,” he said.
Punsalan added that the pending construction of the local government hall in Barangay Sto. Niño here will be scrapped instead will be turned into a community hospital.
Punsalan, meanwhile, called on his fellow newly-elected local officials to leave political differences behind and be united in order to provide efficient and quality public service to Simonians.
“I enjoin my fellow new local officials as well as those who were unfortunate during the elections to be united. I am open to all your suggestions and whatever that can help bring progress in town,” he said.