THOUSANDS of people flock every Tuesday and Thursday to the office of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog after he announced that he is willing to meet them and listen to their needs.
Mabilog said the two days every week may not be enough to meet and interact with the people from all walks of life at his office, but Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays should be time for him to conduct supervision and control of City Government operations.
He also instructed his secretaries to schedule important meetings, conferences and courtesy calls on Mayor's Day and not to interfere on the People's Day as this is his only direct communication to the people of Iloilo.
This unique set-up started this week and people are starting to adapt to the schedule.
Hundreds of people lined up at the City Hall lobby eager to see Mabilog, while another group is ahead and sitting inside the mayor's office.
Since his first day of office last July 1, thousands have already trooped to the city mayor's office to express their congratulations and, at the same time, apply for job openings at the City Government offices.
Job applicants made the bulk of visitors at the mayor's office and more than 4,000 applied as casuals and job hires with only 1,447 slots.
In the second week, applicants started to wane and many people just wanted to see and greet the person they have voted into office to lead the City Government.
Mabilog said he could not accommodate the many applicants as most old job hires were rehired and contract renewed by their department heads. (LCP)