ANGELES City Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. is bent on implementing his six-point agenda and key priorities of his administration.
"Today, I am expecting you to rally behind me and support the projects that I have started. But I cannot accomplish it without the support of a unified City Council and hardworking department heads," he said during the formulation meeting of Executive and Legislative Agenda (ELA) and Capacity Development Agenda (CAPDEV) on November 27 at Hilltop, Mimosa in Clark.
The mayor said he will put a premium to the education of young citizens by improving more daycare centers, as well as the City College.
"We will add more classrooms and courses. Gusto ko po mas maraming batang Angeleño ang makapagtapos ng pag-aaral para tuluyan na nating malabanan ang kahirapan," he added.
According to Lazatin, the City Government already went on a house-to-house visit to the elderly and kids to check their health condition, assure that they are properly taken care of, and provide equal services to all.
"This is our step towards free medical services to every family in Angeles. Kaya po tayo ay nagbabahay bahay para ang serbisyo medikal ay makarating sa bawat hikahos na pamilyang Angeleño," he furthered.
"In fact," he said, "by year 2020 we aim for zero malnourishment in the City, we will make sure that next year, I will personally deliver vitamin supplements and healthy food at home of every malnourished kid."
Moreover, the mayor also believes that a healthy environment is a factor for a comfortable and productive life, especially by extending a hand to protect the City's water shed.
With this, he tasked his Chief Adviser, IC Calaguas, to lead the planting of trees in the remaining 310 hectares of lot surrounding the watershed in Sapangbato.
"A government that safeguards its environment most especially our watershed, this project is to make sure that we will have sufficient water supply for us and the next generation," he mentioned.
Lazatin said that he will be true to his promise, that his government will not increase business and real property taxes but he will compel the business sector to pay the right taxes and comply with all the City's regulations.
"A government which gives importance to the business sector as our partner in community building," he shared.
Furthermore, the mayor added, he will start implementing a drug-free workplace in city hall and business establishments.
He will also subject all public utility drivers to drug tests in cooperation with the Land Transportation Office and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
"A government that will also make sure of the safety of our people by ridding our city of illegal drugs. By doing this we are cutting the demand of illegal drugs in our city," he mentioned.
"Above all of this," he added, "I will make sure that we have a government where all its employees will always put the best interest of public before themselves."
It can be recalled that Lazatin already created an Internal Affairs Division to ensure that there will be no abusive and corrupt employees.
"In short, isang gobyerno na matitino ang empleyado. Walang nangingikil at lahat pumapasok sa oras," he said.
He then asked the support of his fellow public servants to give their best effort to provide the best public service.
"Sama-sama po tayo na isaayos ang ating syudad at simulan po natin ang pag gawa sa araw na ito," he stressed.
The ELA seeks to provide an interface between the Executive and Legislative officials in a bid to support the directives of the local chief executive. (PR)