IN MABALACAT City, several competent men and women are running to occupy seats at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Leading the aspirants for Councilor is Engr. Rolando "Rox" Pena, a very competent local lawmaker who has had considerable exposure and experience in the city's legislative branch. He has crafted sensible, relevant and doable resolutions and ordinances aimed at improving the lives of his fellow Mabalaquenos.
He is a wide and extensive researcher as proven by his columns in Sun Star Pampanga as a compleat environmentalist and his work thereat is a reliable reference by both students and professionals. Definitely, Rox is a vital asset not only to the SP but also to the city government.
There are other outstanding contenders: former Board Member Cherry Manalo was once a Councilor and now that her stint at the provincial government is over, she now aims to vie for a seat in the city's Sangguniang Panlungsod. She also has an extensive exposure and experience at lawmaking at the city and provincial levels. Like Rox, Cherry is a valuable claimant for the position of City Councilor.
Former councilor Eddie Sotto focuses on the provision of good quality education, especially for the marginalized sector. He intends to procure more development tools and equipment for the city schools.
Former Barangay Duquit chairperson Marjorie Morales Sambo has visions to strengthen the barangays' participation and empowerment in the city administration. She rightfully represents barangays' involvement in the city and national affairs.
Former councilor Liza Pineda is another welcome addition to the Sangguniang Panlungsod. Coming from a prominent family, she desires to make us of her influence and connections to achieve more movement and success of her pet projects for the city.
Newbie Ike Morales, a scion of Boking and Nina Morales, is academically qualified to tackle the challenges of local lawmaking at the Sangguniang Panlungsod, having obtained a degree of Legal Management at the De La Salle University. He plans to complete a law course to further prepare him for the task of lawmaking.
Other councilor aspirants on the two divides of the political fence are qualified to do the work at the SP like councilors Noel Bondoc Castro, Jun Castro and Jerry Magsino, a former barangay chairman. These three gentlemen are qualified and properly motivated to do the job.