Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap said she is now focusing on the micro-level needs and priorities of her city.
A former governor of Tarlac province, Yap noted a stark difference between municipal governance and her previous experience in the provincial government.
“Being mayor means looking at the basic needs of the people,” Yap said, expressing her excitement over her first five weeks in office.
Yap also acknowledged the challenges that come with succeeding a predecessor who, she claimed, was not “friendly.”
The mayor said among her current priorities are traffic management, public health, and sanitation, even as the city operates under a reenacted budget.
Yap revealed that over 60 percent of the budget had already been consumed by the time she assumed office.
Despite budget constraints, Yap said she is grateful for the support of the provincial government. “The demands are high,” she said.
For her first 100 days, Yap said she plans to address traffic issues and improve the city’s 10 rural health units.
The mayor vowed to bring the RHUs to their full functionality, making them more accessible and responsive to the public.
Yap also vowed to work for the rehabilitation of the city’s aging public market.
She said volunteer architects and engineers already pledging support for its design.
Yap is likewise tackling the city’s garbage disposal system.
She revealed that the previous administration contracted garbage hauling services for ?82 million—covering only four and a half months.
“People in the barangays are saying the hauler only collects once a week,” Yap said, contradicting the company’s claim that they collect twice a week and frequently in the población area.
Meanwhile, Yap is urging residents to practice waste segregation.
She announced an upcoming partnership with barangay officials and Coca-Cola Philippines for the “Palit Plastic” program, which will allow residents to exchange recyclable plastics for rice.
The initiative aims to reduce the volume of waste ending up in landfills, she said.