In his inaugural address this morning, reelected Mayor Fernando Miguel vowed to pour more resources for more infrastructure projects and to expand the city's agribusiness areas, which he envisions as the main anchors of the area's economic development.
"(I want the city) to rise like a skyscraper with unlimited expansion in terms of opportunities for our people," he said.
Miguel, newly-elected Vice Mayor Vicente de Jesus and the 10 city councilors formally took their oath of office in a simple ceremony administered by Regional Trial Court Judge Laureano Alzate at the city's Freedom Park here this morning.
The elected councilors are Ellen Grace Subere, Ester Catorce, Reynaldo Millan, Oscar Pagunsan, Marie Antonina Hurtado, Gregorio Ogoy, Henry Aguirre, Rose Dideles, Sergio Morales Jr. and Christine Aguilar.
The oath-taking ceremony was preceded by a thanksgiving mass celebrated by Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of the Diocese of Marbel.
Miguel said he plans to build more farm-to-market roads and improve the city's road networks, especially those going to the city's agribusiness zones.
The mayor vowed to complete the construction of a new city hall building and develop a site for the offices of the regional offices.
Miguel earlier said he would push for the transfer of the city government to its new site along the national highway in Sto. Nino in two years.
He said they expect the construction of the proposed P200-million city hall to begin within this year.
The city government earlier forged a Memorandum of Understanding with the Development Bank of the Philippines for the funding of the project through a loan agreement.
Aside from infrastructure, Miguel also promised to invest in programs for "people development," focusing on the building of the character of local residents and awareness towards their cultural heritage.
He said additional funds would be appropriated for the city government's priority programs on health and agriculture concerns.
Now on his final term as mayor, Miguel rallied other elected city officials and residents to rally behind his plans to push for the further development of the city.
"I can't do this alone. We need to work harder together to realize our dreams and aspirations for the city," he added.(Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)
