SAMAL, Bataan- Mayor Generosa M. Dela Fuente of this town vowed to give no room for corruption and to wage war against poverty in her State of the Municipality Address (SOMA) on Tuesday night.
“Lalabanan po natin ang anumang sistema na magbubukas sa anumang uri ng kurapsyon sa ating bayan at gigibain natin ang pader ng kahirapan na kumukulong sa marami nating mamamayan,” she said.
The mayor promised of moving forward a new Samal that is orderly, peaceful and full of hope towards a bright future. Supporters of the lady mayor describe her as Liwanag ng Samal.
Mayor Gene as she is fondly called, gave credit to her faith in God and to the Samal folks themselves as her effective weapons to fulfill her pledge and in facing the giant challenges she has to hurdle every day as local chief executive.
“Like the proverbial David facing Goliath, Mayor Gene courageously trudges towards changing the face of the 4th class municipality,” department heads in the stunning kapis-adorned municipal hall said. Her strict but motherly standards have pushed village councils in 14 barangays and every department of the municipality to strive in giving the best service possible to the residents. Proofs are the numerous awards received by Samal including the coveted Seal of Good Housekeeping and Most Child-Friendly Municipality citations, among so many others.
Mayor Gene commended departments for bagging the 1st Place in the Extra Small Category for Best Performing Local Civil Registry Office in the Philippines for 2013 and a regional citation for the Best Performing Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer.
She launched the first-ever Liwanag ng Samal Award for the Best Managed Barangay in partnership with the Provincial Government of Bataan. Cash prizes were presented to three barangays that performed best based on the Barangay Governance Performance System, Functionality on Barangay Based Institutions, Barangay Ordinances/ Resolutions Enacted and Reportorial Requirements.
Governor Albert Raymond Garcia assisted the lady mayor in presenting the awards and handing out the prizes. Assessment of winners was conducted by the Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO) of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Citations and recognitions were given out to outstanding municipal department heads, punong barangays and school principals for devotedly and commendably performing their respective duties and for their sincere and utmost cooperation in the programs of the local government unit. Outstanding people’s organizations were also given citations.
The governor congratulated all awardees for their exemplary performance and gladly mentioned that it is one of the most significant events that every LGU should do to encourage and empower public servants to pursue outstanding performances.
Mayor Gene expressed her gratitude to all the awardees for their invaluable contributions in the over-all programs of the municipal government. She also cited the efforts of those who further engaged the municipality to be recognized in the regional and national levels in terms of local governance performance.
With her usual wit and charm, Dela Fuente was able to present to her kababayan the municipality’s true status, receiving much applause and appreciation.
“We are confident that the present administration is doing its very best to uplift our living condition,” a group of farmers and fishermen said.
