Garbo vows to continue fight versus corruption
MABALACAT CITY — Mayor Crisostomo Garbo has vowed to continue his fight against corruption in the local government.
During his State of the City Address (SOCA) at the ASEAN Convention Center in Clark Freeport on Monday, the mayor said that he will not tolerate corruption under his administration.
“As for corruption, it is the culprit in every government system which we do not tolerate and condone,” he said.
The local officials established the bids and awards systems where all suppliers have to go to processes imposed by the government without shortcuts and influence of anyone in power, according to Garbo.
“Although the process takes time, this assures our people with the accountability and transparency of our administration,” the mayor added.
The city government also established the Personnel Selection Board (PSB) to give chance to every deserving employee for permanency, Garbo said. “No political accommodations, no favoritisms.”
“We use the merit-based selection program to build this process of selecting right people in our offices and departments,” the mayor said.
During his one-hour speech, Garbo thanked the city employees for rendering quality service for the people of Mabalacat.
“Let us applaud our city employees for their ‘Service with Smile’in this thankless job. For this, we became a finalist for Best LGU in Customer Relations, Provincial Category, given by The Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation Incorporated. Congratulations to all,” the local chief executive said.
Garbo also cited the nine pillars of governance under his administration which include Equal Access to Education, Excellent Health Care, Economic Development, Better Employment Opportunities, Culture and Heritage Awareness, Strong and Moral Values of Citizenry, Integration of Science and Technology in Governance and Delivery of Services, Protection of Environment and Promotion of Peace and Order.
The mayor also announced the procurement of vehicles to support the city’s various programs especially on health, peace and order, and others.
He said the local government has partnered with medical centers in Clark and Pampanga to save the lives of ailing Mabalaquenos.
“We built rural health units in Poblacion, Dau, and Mabiga. In Mabiga alone, 250,000 people availed of medical assistance on noncommunicable diseases, immunization, tuberculosis and HIV treatment care. We employed 21 medical specialists,” Garbo said.
The mayor also disclosed city officials’plan to build a new city hall in Barangay Mabiga which, he said, is the center of the city.
“The first infrastructure that will soon rise in Mabalacat City is the New City Hall and Government Center. It will be strategically located at the center of the city accessibility,” Garbo said.
“Why we need a new government center is like asking why we need to transfer to a larger house with more amenities and with close proximity to almost everything. I want every Mabalaqueno to be closer to home and to give that sense of pride that this is our city hall, it’s big, it’s nice and services are fast,” he added.
‘Br eak’
Meanwhile, Duterte agreed on Monday, July 9, to temporarily cease verbal attacks on the Catholic Church during a meeting with Valles, who sits as president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement that Duterte and Valles agreed on a moratorium on statements about the Church.”
The President held a one-on-one private meeting with Valles at around 4 p.m. Monday. The meeting, held in Malacañan Palace, lasted for about 30 minutes, said Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go.
The meeting between Duterte and Valles happened on the heels of President Duterte’s relentless tirades against the Catholic Church.
Duterte has been heavily criticized for calling God “stupid” and for other anti-Catholic remarks. Duterte has refused to apologize.
Two days prior to his meeting with Valles, the President once again hit church leaders who are allegedly using God’s name “in vain” just to criticize him.
“The priests and the church and everybody connected with a sect or religion or whatever, when you criticize me, criticize me with all the heart’s content. Do it. I’m even asking you to do it so I can assess if you are aggrieved or not aggrieved at my performance,” Duterte said in a speech delivered in Davao City on July 7.
“When you criticize me, do not use the platform of God. [Do not tell me] that God will send you to hell, that God will not forgive you, [that] hell is waiting for you. Do not do it. Do not take God’s name in vain because God might be attacked if I hit you back,” he added. (AP with Ruth Abbey Gita/ SunStar Philippines)