Laoag mayor eyes ‘more vibrant’ second term

Laoag mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas (file photo)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—On her second term, reelected Laoag mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas said she looks forward to a more energetic and brighter city in the next three years.

Ms. Fariñas, who ran unopposed in the recent general elections, will be joined by new councilors and several reelected officials, including reelected Laoag vice mayor Michael V. Fariñas, her husband.

“Adu dagiti baro a rupa ken ubbing a simrek idiay pagpandayan linteg ket kas maysa a taga Laoag ket ekspektarek nga agbalin pay a napinpintas iti pinagsisinnukat da iti kapunpanunutan karaman dagitay nagpailayon para iti ad-adu a gakat a pagsayaatan iti kalugaran tayo, [We have a lot of new and younger faces at the city council, and as Laoag native, I expect a better exchange of ideas and better council outputs for the betterment of our fellow Laoag residents],” Ms. Fariñas said. 

She said the new set of councilors were equally represented—from the youth to the seniors and to all other sectors of society.

Ms. Fariñas is hopeful that all of them will work together as one for the betterment of the city and its residents. She underscored the need for the implementation of current projects as well the needs of the city’s barangays.

The lady mayor is also expecting a harmonious relationship between the city’s executive and legislative branches. She stressed the need for the smooth flow and transparent governance.

Late announcement of poll winners

Laoag City election officer Julius Harvey Balbas proclaimed the winners in the city at 2:16 am of May 12.

Mr. Balbas said the delay was due to a malfunctioning laptop computer used for the consolidation/canvassing system (CCS). He said the laptop computer was brought to Laguna for repair that took three hours. The said equipment was returned to Laoag on May 11 at 11:20 pm. He said they immediately resumed the canvassing of votes and uploaded the storage device (SD) cards.

He further explained that the CCS equipment malfunctioned at 4 pm on May 9. As such, he said they no longer received election results from the city’s different voting precincts.

He added that it was only the laptop computer which has been configured to receive electronically transmitted results from precincts as a security protocol.

Mr. Balbas further disclosed that Dingras, Sultan Kudatrat, Palawan and Isabela also suffered the same problem.

Proclaimed winners

Leading the proclaimed winners are reelected mayor Fariñas, vice mayor Fariñas. The councilors are Franklin Dante Respicio, Roger John Fariñas II, Handy Lao, Portia Pamela Salenda, Shirley Ong-Sin, Roque Benjamin Ablan, Ferdinand Domingo, Edison Bonoan, Justine Clarence Chua and Edison Siazon.

Mr. Balbas thanked the police headed by P/Supt. Edwin Balles for their help in the elections. He said the elections were generally peaceful.

CVF throws support to Digong

Ms. Fariñas also said she is fully supporting presumptive President-elect Rodrigo R. Duterte. She said her support is more on Mr. Duterte’s peace and order plans as well as the eradication of illegal drugs in the country in three to six months.

She added she believes the next President would be more considerate of local government units’ predicament as he served as mayor for more than two decades.

Plans and projects on second term

Ms. Fariñas also announced that the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) room at the Laoag City General Hospital will be inaugurated on May 20.

She also enumerated her other plans and projects for her second term. Among which are the need of 16 barangays in the city for the roofing of their barangay courts as well as other concreting projects. She stressed that the barangay equal sharing will continue.

She is also hopeful that the proposed conversion of San Mateo Elementary School into an integrated school will soon be realized.

The city government will also continue in the distribution of livelihood assistance with the help of different agencies.

As for employment, Ms. Fariñas said they have tied up with Northwestern University for the conduct of a job fair for overseas employment. She said at least 300 jobs are available.

The city government will also soon have its retirement home and community as well as a “Bahay Pag-asa” for the youth.

She also said a new mall will soon open in the city.

The plans to develop parts of Brgy. Calayab may also push through soon, she said. Investors earlier said they intend to develop parts of the said barangay.

Ms. Farinas said she will also work for the improvement and expansion of the Laoag City sanitary landfill this year.