OATH-TAKING. Reelectionist Rep. Julienne Baronda was joined by members of her family as she takes her oath of office before Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday (June 27, 2022). Baronda committed to expand the delivery of her services during her second term. (PNA photo courtesy of Arnold Almacen/City Mayor's Office) ILOILO CITY - This highly urbanized city will play a vital role in the development of the Visayas region, said Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who officiated the swearing-in ceremony of elected local officials here on Monday. In his message, he also lauded local officials for doing their part in making Iloilo City as one of the livable if not the most livable city in the country. "As partners in the legislative branch and executive branch in the national and local governments we are one in a job of not only uplifting our people from this pandemic but also creating opportunities for them to enjoy genuine empowerment, strengthened government support in education, health, agriculture, tourism and social services," he said. The Hiligaynon-speaking senator also committed his support to the city's programs and projects. Leading local officials who took their oath of offices were reelectionists Rep. Julienne Baronda, Mayor Jerry P. Trenas and Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon and neophyte Uswag Ilonggo party-list representative-elect James Ang Jr. Incoming members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod to include lawyer Sidfrey Cabaluna, Miguel Trenas, Alan Zaldivar, Frances Grace Parcon-Torres, Dr. Urminico Baronda, Rudolph Ganzon, lawyer Rex Sarabia, Dr. Candice Tupas, Johnny Young, Romel Duron, Ely Estante and Plaridel Nava, Baronda, in her inaugural speech, committed to expand the delivery of her "gugma (love)" services through her health, "obra (work)", peace and order and education (HOPE) platform. "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 paagi sa pag doble sang HOPE (by doubling our HOPE)," she said. She said that her office would also look into housing settlements for those having difficulty owning their own houses, overseas Filipino workers, preparedness for disasters, and environment and climate change adaptation Meantime, Trenas said that the city government would not only work on its usual mandate to deliver basic services but also focus on other initiatives to continue pushing for the city's development. He talked about rehabilitation of all public markets to fuel economic activities and the preservation of cultural heritage. "We recognize that protecting our plazas and our heritage sites is not just a beautification effort, it is our commitment to preserve our history in order to tell our future generations stories of our colorful past. Our on-going infrastructure projects are our response to provide an environment for fun, relaxation and mental wellbeing for our people," the mayor said. He also took the opportunity to express his gratitude to all city hall employees, the private and business sectors for their support as the local government was battling the health pandemic. The mayor said that the city has tried to be advanced "in terms of crisis response and management that earned the respect and admiration of many. (PNA) }
TEAM USWAG. Candidates of Team Uswag Iloilo file their certificates through a representative at the local office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday (Oct. 6, 2021). The candidates were led by re-electionists (3rd to 5th from left) Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Trenas, and Vice-Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon.(Photo courtesy of Arnold Almacen/City Mayor's Office) ILOILO CITY - A thanksgiving mass, instead of the usual pompous celebration, was offered to usher the Team Uswag Iloilo's filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC) at the office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here on Wednesday. Team Uswag, meaning progress, is the team headed by re-electionist Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Trenas. "We pray for God's enlightenment and guidance on the endeavor we want to pursue. We don't need any grand event, but it is always important to thank the Almighty for all the years He had lead me, and ask for His continuous guidance and protection as we strive to create a more progressive City of Love," said Trenas in his Facebook page. After the thanksgiving mass at the Nuestra Senora De La Paz Y Buen Viaje in La Paz district, City Administrator Melchor Tan filed the COC of Trenas, re-electionist Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, and their slate at the local council. Running for the Sangguniang Panlungsod seats are incumbent councilors Lawyers Frances Grace Parcon and Rommel Duron, Alan Zaldivar, Ely Estante, Rudolf Ganzon, and Carlos "Jojo" Javellana and new aspirants Lawyer Rex Sarabia, Miguel Trenas, Johnny Young, Dr. Urminico Baronda Jr., Lawyer Sedfrey Cabaluna and John Eric David. City Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda, who is gunning for her second term, personally filed her COC. In an interview, Comelec elections assistant Jonathan Sayno said that as of October 6, a total of 21 candidates have already filed their COCs: Two candidates for the lone congressional seat, two for the mayoral post, one for vice mayor, and 16 for the Sangguniang Panlungsod. Sayno said that more candidates are expected to file before the October 8 deadline. "The filing of COC is smooth but it could not be avoided that there were defects or discrepancy. We help them fix to ensure that the entries are correct," he said. The common error, he said, is the name to appear in the official ballot. In case there are wrong entries, the candidates should be the ones to erase and put their initials on the corrected portion and not the Comelec. (PNA) }