STA. MARCELA, Apayao – Mayor Rolly “Idol” Guiang and SF04 Zaldy Tugaoen headed to the Bureau of Fire Protection National Headquarters in Diliman, Quezon City on March 25 to represent the Municipality of Sta. Marcela in the turn-over and acceptance of a fully equipped brand new fire truck which was donated by the Japan Government.
Department of Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año and Japan Ambassador Koji Haneda led the turn-over of the fire truck in the earnest desire of Sta. Marcela to replace their old one and be ready to respond in any fire or emergency incidents the municipality and nearby towns might encounter.
Guiang said they requested for a brand new fire truck through a resolution to the DILG Secretary back then in 2011 in the onset of being the new Local Chief Executive of Sta. Marcela as this is one of the priority needs of his town.
According to Guiang, the approval and arrival of the new fire truck did not come easily as it needs a lot of follow up both from his office and the BFP Sta. Marcela. “Actually, the new fire truck could have been realized in 2016 but the 1st and 2nd batches were handed to Visayas and Mindanao,” Guiang underscored.
Guiang expressed also his appreciation for the unrelenting assistance of Congresswoman Eleanor Bulut-Begtang in the fulfillment of their wish to have a reliable fire truck vehicle as it was her office which facilitated their request to the DILG. “I’m so glad that it was realized within my last term before bowing out as mayor,” he added.
“Daytoy nga fire truck ket sagot tayo kadagiti kalugaran tayo kas paset ti naimpapuswan a panagserbi ken gakat nga mangpaadda kadagiti kangrunaan nga kasapulan tayo kas koma emergency equipment ken vehicle. Eksakto lang ta nakagatang tayo pay baro nga ambulansya tayon. (This fire truck vehicle is our gift to our constituents as part of our sincere services and our desire to have the necessary emergency equipment and vehicle. Exactly, we have also bought a brand new ambulance),” Guiang stressed.
The Municipality of Sta. Marcela is considered as the smallest town based on land area in Apayao yet the present administration has shown wonderful accomplishments in terms of its infrastructure projects and socio economic aspects. It has also made a remarkable feat in the promotion of tourism industry especially in establishing the Bacut Lake Tourism Complex and Nature Park as a prime tourist destination in the municipality.
Guiang who is often called Mayor “Idol” has again been awarded for three consecutive years as one of the Most Outstanding Mayor in the Philippines for 2019. According to Guiang, he is bowing out as Mayor but is running for Vice-Mayoralty position as a way of continually serving the people of Sta. Marcela which is considered as a genuine act of pushing forward with what he has started in line with the inclusive and sustainable growth of the municipality.
By GERRIAHZON S. SEBASTIAN
