Magalong outlines 10- point agenda for Baguio

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong presented to the city residents and visitors his 10-point agenda in the next three years that will transform the country’s undisputed Summer Capital into a better Baguio.

            The new city chief executive underscored the need for the people to bear in mind the needs of the youth, thousands of young men and women eager to start a career, a profession or a business but just could not get it going.

            "Let us think of the workers who toil each day fighting off the traffic congestion in our roads. Let us man the frontline of service in protecting and safeguarding our environment,” Magalong stressed.

            He said that doing his homework right after the May 13, 2019 mid-term elections, he felt grateful that Baguio has a special place in the hearts and minds of the national leaders as he expressed his gratitude to President Rodrigo R. Duterte for the many doors that had been opened, the many opportunities harnessed for all the help that Baguio needs.

            According to him, in the next 3 months, scores of national agencies will visit Baguio to assess how best national government support can be accessed at possibly low or no cost to the city.

            Magalong assured that his 3-year tenure will be characterized by implementing actions crafted from policies that will be forged between the executive and legislative departments for the city government to attain measurable results in speeding up government action, revitalizing the environment, innovating peace and order conditions, aggressive traffic management, responsive education, empowering the youth, expanding health and social services, responsible tourism, enlivened culture, arts, crafts and heritage, and modernizing the city market.

            For now, he claimed the city government should be ready to provide the visiting technical experts all the facts and numbers needed to push forward the different programs, projects and activities, specifically an integrated command center to effectively manage peace and order, traffic and disaster response, transport terminals and multi-level parking buildings; tenement-type buildings for socialized housing; waste-to-energy facility; zero waste facility; sewer and water treatment plants and sewerage system; modernized market; free wife connectivity in public places; automation system of the City Hall; cooperative-based livelihood program; preventive health care system, and green enterprise.

            He pointed out that at the appropriate time, specifics of the said programs will be submitted to the city council for due consideration and the proper initiating authority to proceed in recognition of their executive and legislative roles in the policy-making functions of good governance.

            Magalong emphasized his good governance principles will be anchored on ethics and integrity, on transparency and accountability, on competence, on fairness, on purity of intentions, and most importantly, on humility.

            Upon the said standards will his decisions and actions be measured with no less than the greater good as the ultimate consideration.

            Magalong assured residents and visitors alike he will be working from below, rather than above, the people, wherein the needs of others will always be above his own and at all times, he will hold the value of humility over authority, of character over career, of honesty and handwork as hallmarks of effective leadership, in consonance with his mandate and in fostering public transparency and accountability.