HIIMAMAYLAN CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Re-elected Mayor Rogelio Raymund I. Tongson Jr. vowed to continue his three-point protocol of delivering fast, efficient, and transparent public service on his second term.
Tongson made the vow during his inaugural speech at the City Hall here before a crowd made up mostly of families of officials and City Hall employees to comply with quarantine restrictions.
The re-elected Tongson’s 2019 win over the entrenched Bascon clan here was considered as one of the significant political upsets in the province.
He held his inaugural along with his running mate, re-elected Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao.
Tongson, who fell ill with COVID several times, echoed his campaign slogan, “stronger together” as he assured residents that this city shall grow on all fronts, starting with attracting more businesses and investors.
Tongson read parts of his 2019 inaugural speech today, 22 June 2022, a speech he was not able to deliver amid rains that fell in 2019.
Like in that year, rains also fell today during his inaugural that was, however, held indoor unlike in 2019.
Job generation and opportunities in the digital industries shall still remain as the focus of his administration with plans of succeeding the first call center they established in partnership with the Gatuslao family in his first term.
“Your city government will design programs to aggressively market Himamaylan to potential investors,” Tongson said.
He pointed out that he and the Sanggunian Panlungsod (city council) shall work to pursue their goal of improving business friendliness through strengthening their infrastructure development initiatives.
The chief executive said there are on-going talks with the Department of Public Works and Highways for the implementation of an up-land express highway cutting through the mountainous areas here and nearby towns.
Tongson also said there are dredging and flood control initiatives underway here to address related concerns of residents.
Despite maintaining modernization upgrades, the re-elected administration seeks to become both a smart and green city starting with its grandslam hosting of the Tour of the Fireflies, a cycling event that champions environmental conservation, yesterday, 21 June 2022.
Tongson said he and Gatuslao will further programs in education, security, and marginalized sector representation through strengthened scholarship programs, the initiation of a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the police, and indigenous peoples representation in the local government.
He added his 2019 inaugural speech reflected the fulfilment of the seemingly impossible visions he had for the city, as he swore he would do it again with the help of Himamaylans.
“I will try to make this the best chapter of my life and I hope that I can also make this the best chapter in the lives of each and every Himamaylanon,” Tongson said.
