REELECTED Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Jose Francisco "Kiko" Benitez has administered the oath of office o the elected officials of Murcia led by reelected Mayor Gerry Rojas and Vice Mayor Johnny Reosura at the town’s gymnasium on June 28.
"As Vice Mayor Johnny Reosura said, the election and our hard work in securing our victory are over, and now it is time for us to work together," Benitez said, as he congratulated the newly sworn in officials for their new mandate in the next three years.
"If we really want to work for the good of all our constituents, we should forget about politics from now on. At the end of the day, the message of congratulations goes to all of you here today. Their victory is the victory of all Murciahanons. You trusted them and voted for them; now you should also scrutinize them and ensure that they perform their duties for the progress of Murcia," he stressed.
Other officials who took their oath of office before Benitez were Sangguniang Bayan Members including Phillip Belleza, Alfredo "Pidong" Villarosa, Kedy Yu, Jagie "Tata" Gravino, Jose “Bebot” Gomez, Adrian "Ader" Olimpo, Hernan Alintana and Antonio Luis "Anton" Gonzaga.
Villarosa, Yu, Gravino, Gomez, Olimpo and Gonzaga are reelected officials. Belleza, the sole independent candidate, scored his first political victory in his first try, while Alintana was an ex-officio council member as president of Murcia’s Association of Barangay Captains.
Rojas and Reosura are serving their second terms in their respective positions. They belong to the same political party in both their first and second terms.
Rojas presented a video of his accomplishment report focusing on the seven-point agenda which he promised during his first term as well as other programs and projects which he has delivered over and above what he had promised.
"Murcia has limited resources, but we were able to accomplish all these projects in just three years, mainly because of the unity of your municipal officials, our barangay captains and other barangay officials, our Department Heads and employees, the Philippine Army, PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection, and most of all, because of the support and cooperation of all Murciahanons," Rojas said.
He also expressed his gratitude to the support extended to his administration by Governor Bong Lacson, Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Third District Board Members Frederick Ko and Andrew Montelibano, as well as the support from [Congressman] Benitez and his brother, former congressman and now Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez, Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano, and Senators Migz Zubiri and Bong Go.
“In living up to our slogan ‘Paspas Asenso, Murcia!,’ we have accomplished much in just three years, but a lot more need to be done. We have to institute more programs to reach out to our beloved Murciahanons, so that they can directly feel and benefit from the services of their local government and local officials,” Rojas added.
He also enjoined all Murciahanons to support his administration and cooperate with the town's programs so that they can achieve their collective dream of a more progressive Murcia. (PR)