Newly-installed Angeles City Mayor Carmelo "Jon" Lazatin II has vowed to uphold good governance and transparency in local governance.
Lazatin reiterates these vows when he, together New City
Vice Mayor Amos Rivera and other newly-installed councilors, took their oath of office at the Lapid Sports Arena in Barangay Pampang Tuesday. Judge Omar Viola administered the oathtaking of the new city leaders.
During his speech, the mayor also announced the suspension of the environmental fee collection.
The environmental fee, which is included in the water bills of consumers, is used to sustain the city's waste management program and disposal and treatment of wastewater. The fee is typically a percentage (e.g., 10%) of the monthly water consumption bill.
The mayor said the move is aimed to ease the burden of residents and entrepreneurs, and promote sustainable development.
“Meron man magagalit, sa tingin ko mas marami ang matutuwa, basta gagawa tayo ng tama," Lazatin said.
After the event, Lazatin issued Executive Order 2025-001 suspending the implementation of Section 6 Paragraph A(iii) and B(ii) and Section 7 of Ordinance No. 487, Series of 2019; Ordinance No. 640 Series of 2022; Ordinance No 697 Series of 2023; and Ordinance No 698 Series of 2023 pending amendments.
Ordinance 697 (Amending Ordinances 692 and 640 otherwise known as An Ordinance Providing for the Water Quality and Septage Management System in Angeles City, states the "amended rate of environmental or septage fee at P5 per cubic meter with a minimum monthly charge of 10 cubic meter and maximum monthly charge of 35 cubic meter of water consumed by water utilities' consumers."
"It requires the payment of P10 as septage fee for all annual desludging/siphoning services for all classifications of commercial, industrial, government and institutional structures or establishments with a minimum monthly charge of 50 cubic meter and maximum charge of 150 cubic meters."
The mayor stated that the local government unit received "numerous complaints, concerns and comments" from the residents of the city in connection with the implementation of these ordinances.