A legend in Mabalacat politics
ECCE HOMO. This is an account of the man who has been a legend in Mabalacat politics.
He has an unequalled record of government and public service, unsurpassed by any politician in the Philippines.
Mayor Marino “Boking” Pineda Morales is still at the helm of Mabalacat City government. This, despite several disqualification suits to dislodge him from his post by pretenders who do not have solid credentials as the longserving local chief executive.
For the past two decades, Mayor Boking has seen the transformation of the fourth class municipality with an annual budget of P33 million in 1995 into a vibrant city with good potentials to become a leading area for business, entertainment and peaceful living, now with a budget of P1.3 billion, a quantum leap indeed.
To prove his record is no fluke, several agencies have bestowed him awards and plaques of recognition and distinction such as the Association of Local Colleges and Universities, Commission on Higher Education, Association of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), National Nutrition Co u n ci l , Achiever Award on Corn Production and the provincial and regional awards of the Public Employment Service Office, among others.
To cap his sterling record on local governance, the city government was again awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance. This alone disproves any insinuation of anomaly and mediocrity. An LGU will not be given this award if it does not comply with the stringent qualification requirements.
For 2016, he has been cited as Model Local Chief Execut i ve.
Mayor Boking thinks big and wants the city officials and employees to likewise think big and be productive. Among his priorities is education, one of his flagship projects. From a dream in 2005, he nurtured it until then Mabalacat College became a reality. Now on its 8th year of existence, now Mabalacat City College has also been reaping recognition due to its excellent showing in national licensure examinations, the latest of which was the Customs Broker exams where one of its graduates landed ninth place nationwide. The faculty, the non-teaching faculty as well as the school administration are all committed to excel and carry the colors of the city government.
Mayor Boking is a man of vision and action. An achiever, he is always proactive, positive in outlook and resilient. He has undergone several challenges in the past and always he has overcome all of them with plenty to spare. Jokingly, he says he has not given his 100% on his work.
Beyond 2019, Mayor Boking has more grand plans for the city: infrastructure including the now-finished ClarkMabalacat-Angeles east perimeter road, massive street lighting and inroads to traffic and overall peace and order.
In compliance with President Duterte’s instructions much efforts have been expended by the Mabalacat Drug Abuse Council, with the all-out support of Mayor Boking, and all the city’s barangay drug abuse councils, in order to make Mabalacat City envisioned to become Makati, North of Manila drug-free, peaceful and orderly.
Mayor Boking is a man for others, for his constituents. He is always at their beck and call, always ready any place, anywhere and say Just Call My Name and I’ll be there!