ITOGON, Benguet – Boardmember and Mayor-elect Bernard S. Waclin assured his constituents of consultative governance to allow the people to have their share and inputs in the crafting of the town’s overall development plan that will be implemented by the next administration.
Waclin was recently proclaimed by the municipal board of canvassers as the winner in the town’s mayoralty post after edging out Vice Mayor Adriano Carantes, Jr., Dalupirip Punong Barangay Paul Camantiles, Municipal Administrator Noel Ngolob and Napoleon Fianza for the said post.
He disclosed that his administration will pursue the implementation of the priority projects that had not been fulfilled and completed by incumbent Mayor Victorio T. Palangdan to help bring the municipality to greater heights.
The mayor-elect stipulated that his administration will also pursue the present administration’s advocacy on land tenure to pave the way for the segregation of already occupied areas that will be awarded to qualified occupants so that people will not remain to be squatters on their own land.
Waclin pointed out that appropriate programs, projects and activities will also be lined up for the advancement of the town’s tourism, agriculture and small-scale mining sectors while ensuring that there will be balance between development and the environment.
According to him, the people will be the ones to identify their needs and the proposed interventions that will be incorporated in an overall plan which will serve as the basis on how the limited funds of the local government will be apportioned.
The boardmember revealed that his administration will not only rely on the funds of the local government to fund the priority projects that will be identified by the people but there will be efforts to source out resources not only from concerned government agencies but also from the private sector so that more projects will be implemented in the municipality for the betterment of the greater majority of the populace and to address the priority problems of the residents that need immediate action.
He assured the people that his administration will be compassionate, caring and will embark on the true principles of transparency and accountability so that they will continue to have faith in the local government in addressing their pressing issues and concerns.
Waclin asserted that he will work hard to reciprocate the trust and confidence that was shown to him by the town’s electorate in voting for him as the next local chief executive and that genuine public service will surely exist for the benefit of the residents who continue to aspire for sustainable growth and development.
Itong is one of the 5 first-class municipalities and one of the 3 first class towns that rely on mining as their major source of income because of the presence of the operation of large-scale mining companies and small-scale mining associations.
Waclin appealed to the people to support his administration to ensure the successful realization of their dreams and aspirations for the continuous development of the municipality.
