By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY – Former
Lamitan City mayor and vice-mayor-elect Roderick H. Furigay has clarified
speculations on alleged political abuse by a husband-and-wife tandem to lead
both the executive and legislative branches of the local government unit.
In a press statement, city information
officer Felipe Fernando said that speculations arose as majority of the elected
city councilors are allies of the present administration.
Mayor Rosita U. Furigay is said to easily get
the cooperation of the city council as only four of the councilors belong to
the opposition and his husband as the vice mayor.
“Some sectors are apprehensive about the
abuse of power, that the chief executive and the presiding officer are couple,”
the vice mayor said.
But he gave his assurance that transparency,
accountability and good governance will be defended and protected at all cost.
He urged the opposition in the council to
remain opposition to be able to check and balance government transactions.
“But be a constructive opposition,” he added.
“This
is the first time to happen in the history of Lamitan and we will prove to you
that there is nothing wrong with the husband and wife team,” Mayor Rose said.
The inaugural session was being attended by
more than a thousand audiences coming from different sectors in the government
and NGO’s.
Meanwhile, elected mayor Rosita U. Furigay,
presented her priority projects and express for support from the councils.
“We cannot live in comfort in the midst of
disorder, if our economy cannot meet the basic needs of our constituents, if
our infrastructure falls short in supporting the mobility of our farmers,
fisherfolks, our city could not be in the position to welcome visitors from
other places if it is in clutter.”
Thus, the Rose administration outlined and
presented the 100 days priority projects to include the following: procurement
of additional one unit garbage truck and paraphernalia for garbage collectors,
provision of trash tins, purchase of Lot for garbage dumpsite, increase in
salary of Job Orders from 4,000.00 to 5,000.00 by next year, full
implementation of traffic code and augment the existing traffic enforcers , acquisition
of 6,000 sq. mtrs for madrasa learning center for primary, secondary and
tertiary, Philhealth for 4000 indigent families, concreting of roads, construction
of Multi-purpose Hall, construction of Sta Clara basketball court, water supply
in Barangay Luksumbang, construction of Street Lights, continued Scholarship
Grants to qualified indigents, transfer of Motorpool to a 2,000 square-meter space
in Lagasan, P1000.00 to each Barangay Health Workers as counterpart from the
city government, and P500.00 allowance for the CVO’s. (PIA9)