THE City Government of Lamitan has rolled out a simple but fitting commemorative program marking its 16th year of cityhood on Sunday, June 18.
The simple program highlighted the success of the once trouble municipality of Lamitan in Basilan province to a peaceful and progressive city and is now known as Basilan’s capital.
Councilor Kennybel Flores, speaking for and on behalf of Mayor Roderick Furigay, hailed Lamitan City as promising as it was way back when it was still a municipality.
"Our cityhood is one of our greatest victories as Lamiteños," Flores said as she reaffirmed the city government's commitment under Furigay's administration to pursue further Lamitan's unceasing strive for success in all its endeavors, bearing in mind the general welfare of the Lamiteños.
She also paid tribute to the people behind Lamitan's cityhood struggle like former governor and deputy speaker Abdulgani Salapudin, who authored Lamitan's cityhood law and other local politicians and the Lamiteños themselves... "kasi kayo ang inspirasyon namin. And to Councilor Joaquin Puri, Jr., the legal team and former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile."
Flores also remembered the late mayor Rose Furigay, under whose leadership with the support of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Lamitan City smoothly propelled to development that boasts of a bustling economy, vibrant tourism and stable peace.
“Ipagpatuloy natin ang pag abante ng Lamitan (Let’s continue the advancement of Lamitan)!" she urged Lamiteños.
Meanwhile, City Administrator Ken Calolot Bisal thanked Mayor Furigay who, she said, was one of Lamitan's cityhood heroes, having worked tirelessly to transform Lamitan into what “it has become today, 16 years and counting.” (SunStar Zamboanga)