ANGELES City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. has asked for support for the "Gawang Angeleño" campaign of the City Government.
Leading by example, Lazatin wore a two-button classic pinstripe suit set created by Angeleño designer Frederick Policarpio.
Amid the efforts being done by the City Government to meet the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, Lazatin considers it also a priority to promote local products made by the city's Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through the One Town, One Product (Otop) store.
"Ngayong panahon ng pandemya, importanteng matulungan natin ang mga kababayan natin makabangon, lalo na yung maliliit na negosyante. Sa pagsuporta sa mga produkto nila, natutulungan natin silang magkaroon ng sustainable livelihood," Lazatin said.
Lazatin also stands by the quality of products being produced by his constituents and wants the whole world to take notice.
"Naniniwala ako sa kalidad ng mga produktong ginagawa ng mga kababayan natin dito sa Angeles. Maganda at matibay. World-class quality, pero affordable. Kaya naman karapat-dapat itong ipagmalaki sa buong mundo," he said.
Lazatin also enlisted the help of renowned Angeleño designers such as Rich Sabinian, Rosette Biag, Danica Zita, Manny Ocampo, Stephen Victoriano, Jhune Angeles, Joey Feliciano, Bhry Adefuin, Jojo Macapinlac, Mich Viray, Carl Miranda, Cholo Ayuyao, Richard Hill, Rop Syquia, Philip Dizon Torres, Marlon Tuazon, and Frederick Policarpio to share their talent and expertise in creating fashionable and reusable facemasks and personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the homebased mananahis, that were hired by the city government as part of the "Angeleño First FaceMask Livelihood Program."
"Itong mga livelihood program na ito, para sa mga kababayan nating nawalan ng hanapbuhay, lalo na yung mga persons with disabilities at mga single parents, na magkaroon pa rin sila ng pagkakakitaan ngayong panahon ng pandemya, para makatulong sa mga pamilya nila," Lazatin said.
In order to bring the products featured at the Otop store closer to more Angeleños, Lazatin has instructed Executive IV Reina Manuel and Angeles City Economic Development and Promotions Office (Acedipo) Officer-in-Charge Irish Bonus-Llego, to install an Otop kiosk at the newly constructed waiting shed at the city hall.
"Habang naghihintay yung mga kababayan natin sa pag-proseso ng mga papeles nila sa City Hall, pwede silang tumingin-tingin dun sa Otop kiosk, lalo na at malapit na ang kapaskuhan. Maraming magagandang panregalo na Gawang Angeleño na pwede silang makita dun sa ating Otop kiosk," Lazatin said.
Lazatin, commonly referred to as "Pogi," is the son of three-term mayor and First District Representative, the late Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin. He is currently serving his first term as mayor.