‘USWAG 2.0’: City officials vow more, improved public service in new terms

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Iloilo City’s leaders on Monday, June 27, 2022 promised newer and more improved service to the people as they took their respective oaths of office three days before they officially begin their fresh mandate on June 30.

The re-elected triumvirate of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, and lone district Rep Julienne Baronda were sworn in by presumptive Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

All 12 elected members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod were also inaugurated during the event, as well as Uswag Ilonggo Rep.-elect James Ang.

These include incumbents Alan Zaldivar, Frances Grace Parcon, Rudolph Ganzon, Candice Tupas, Romel Duron, and Ely Estante and newcomers Sedfrey Cabaluna, Miguel Treñas, Urminico Baronda, Rex Marcus Sarabia, and Johnny Young.

Other members of the city council are also related to current and former city officials, including Tupas, the younger Treñas and Ganzon, Parcon, the older Baronda, and Sarabia.

Tupas, who is serving her third term, took over the last months of her husband Nielex’s last term when he was appointed by then-President Benigno Aquino III to head the National Youth Commission in early 2016. She won in her own right in the 2016 polls a few months later.

Parcon, while an incumbent councilor, won in the 2022 polls after being selected to fill in the vacancy caused by the death of her father, the late Armand Parcon, in May 2019.

Miguel Treñas, the mayor’s son, is set to take the family mantle in the local legislature from his cousin Jay, who will be retiring from city politics this week.

Ganzon is the vice-mayor’s son, who, like his father, is serving a second term. The older Ganzon took the vice-mayorship in October 2017 after then-mayor Jed Mabilog was dismissed by the Ombudsman, and then-vice mayor Jose Espinosa III served the remainder of Mabilog’s term.

Baronda, a former city health official and father of Rep. Julienne Baronda, takes over from his younger daughter, Lady Julie Grace, who will also retire after three consecutive terms.

Sarabia, a lawyer and former president of the Central Philippine University Republic, is the son of the late city councilor and judge Ma. Rita Bascos-Sarabia.

SPEECHES

Mayor Treñas, Rep. Baronda, Rep.-elect Ang, and Zubiri all gave speeches to mark the occasion and made their “sales pitch” for the people’s support for the city and national governments.

In his speech, Treñas called on Ilonggos to “pitch in” to bring the city to greater heights “by being the best they can be.”

He shared that his aspiration for the city heading into the new term and towards the distant future is for its residents to be self-sufficient.

The continuing priorities for the mayor’s second term include further improvements of the public markets, health centers, and recreational infrastructure, preservation of cultural heritage sites, and making education more accessible.

“No matter how big or small it may be, it shall be a part of the whole. Therefore, I encourage everyone to take an active part in our move to bring Iloilo to greater heights by being the best that you can be. Be the best teacher, the best employee, the best doctor, engineer, lawyer, sari sari store owner, jeepney driver, mother, father, son, daughter, friend, in other words, be the best you!” the mayor said.

Baronda used her speech as a launching pad for ‘GUGMA 2.0’, which she said is a new and improved version of her first term in public service as the city’s lone representative to the national legislature.

She said that she would “double the HOPE”, referring to her signature acronym H.O.P.E., which now refers to Health and Housing settlements, Obra and OFWs, Peace and order and Preparedness for disasters, and Education and Environment and climate change.

“This 2022, still, love is my only capital, and the Ilonggos gave me this fresh mandate to continue and to do more and to do better our services.  Which is why, upon the assessment on the national level and on the ground, we will be extending our service by doubling the HOPE,” the congresswoman said.

Ang committed Uswag Ilonggo’s partnership with Treñas and the city government, as well as other local governments in Western Visayas, signaling a tall order to commit themselves to the service to the entire region.

“We will work towards progress, that is what Uswag Ilonggo is. When we campaigned, programs promoting our region were in our hearts and minds. For a united, progressive Western Visayas, you accepted us with overwhelming support,” Ang said.

“Together, we will be committed for the development of the city of Iloilo and the provinces of the region that will have a big contribution on the growth of our nation in the future. In Iloilo City, Uswag Ilonggo will partner with the leadership of Jerry Treñas and the city council,” he added.

Zubiri thanked his support in the senatorial elections. The mayor endorsed Vice President Leni Robredo, while the senator endorsed president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

He also recalled that he was a neophyte representative of Bukidnon when he met Rep. Baronda for the first time, who was then the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President in the city council.

Zubiri called his role in the oathtaking as a “deeply humbling” opportunity, and promised Ilonggos of continued support from the national government.

“You all know that Iloilo is close to my heart, so it is deeply humbling to be here today, to swear you all in your positions as duly-elected servants of Iloilo City,” Zubiri said.

“I salute the leaders of Iloilo City because with your strength being united, you have developed this city as one of the most beautiful cities,” he added.

“As a re-elected public servant myself, I am with you in the coming years that we help each other for the progress of our country, with Iloilo City taking the vital role in the development of the Visayas region. As partners in the legislative and executive branches in the national and local governments, we are one in our job of not only uplifting our people from this pandemic, but also creating opportunities for them to enjoy genuine empowerment, to strengthen government support in education, health, agriculture, tourism, and social services,” he said in a mix of Hiligaynon and English.

He also paid tribute to retiring Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, who is credited for many big-ticket projects in the city and province of Iloilo.

“[Drilon] will be celebrating his last few days in office. We will miss him. He truly is the big man of the Senate and the big man of our country. What he has done for Iloilo City is what every legislator should emulate but especially by us senators, who, at times, when they get to a national level, they no longer help the local [level].”