BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia will make a recommendation to the City Council for the assumption of Secretary to the Mayor lawyer Edward Joseph Cuansing to take over the post of the city administrator.
This, after City Administrator Em Ang filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) Wednesday, October 6, 2021, for councilor of Bacolod.
Upon the filing of her COC, Leonardia said Ang will be considered automatically resigned.
“My recommendation is still subject to the confirmation of the City Council,” he said.
Ang was appointed city administrator in February 2020. She submitted her resignation Wednesday, October 6.
“When I accepted the appointment as city administrator in February 2020, nothing could have prepared me for the first task that would fall onto my plate, handling Covid- 19 operations. Since then, my days and nights have been about creating and working with a team to figure out the best way to contain this novel pandemic that would wreak havoc around the world,” Ang said.
She also said, "there was no precedent to pattern our action as we were facing a new virus. We had to act and adapt as the pandemic progressed, with the hands-on leadership of Mayor Bing and the able support of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Chair [and] Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran. Thankfully, there have been many competent minds that have been instrumental in the work we do. For my entire stay as city administrator, I had to operate at my fullest and I could not afford myself time to rest, knowing that this virus does not sit on the sides.”
It is a bittersweet moment, Ang, who is also the executive director of Emergency Operations Center (EOC), said.
"I realize that my time as administrator is at its end, but at the same time, I am excited to once again vie for a seat in the city council. I believe that I can make the most difference and that my strengths lie as a legislator," Ang posted on Facebook.
She further said that managing the affairs of the city has allowed her to pinpoint areas that "we could improve on, which sectors need the most help, and what structures need to be in place."
Aside from Ang, Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy medical for data and analysis of EOC and Director of Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa), also filed a COC for councilor Wednesday.
Sorongon said he will hold a meeting with the Baciwa Board to discuss his status.
Sorongon, who was representing the business sector, said that he will abide by the guidelines since he already filed a COC so he will submit his resignation.
Ang and Sorongon will also continue their function as the executive directors of EOC.