MMK formally takes over as Laoag City mayor

Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon delivers his first speech as the city’s chief executive after the flag-raising ceremony at the City Hall on July 1, 2019. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

Laoag City—New Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon formally assumed the city’s chief executive post on the noon of June 30, 2019, replacing former two-term Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas.

On July 1, 2019, Mr. Keon attended the Monday flag-raising at the city hall and delivered his first speech as mayor to city hall officials, employees and several Sangguniang Panlungsod members led by Laoag Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Vicentito M. Lazo.

In his speech, Mr. Keon said it was a “good fight” between “Team Marcos” and the Fariñas clan in the May midterm elections. He then stressed that “politics is over” and that he understands that in a democracy, city hall employees have the right to choose who they want to vote for.

He, however, disclosed that some city hall employees committed what he described as “malicious and hostile” acts during the campaign period.

“Acts done with the intention of hurting, blocking and hindering ‘Team Marcos’. This is not acceptable,” the new Laoag mayor said.

He also said that he knew that most of Laoag’s barangay chairpersons supported Mrs. Fariñas’ candidacy, “ngem kas met kadagitay city employees adu met dagiti nasobra-an na iti garaw da ket saanen nainkalintegan dagitoy”.

In view of this, he said he will sit down with the barangay chairpersons and other barangay officials to thresh out the issues.

“Siyak tay tao a saan a manag selos ken saan a managmula iti sakit iti nakem. I always give credit where credit is due. I know and I acknowledge that the Fariñas family have done good things in the approximately 45 years off and on that they have held power in Laoag City,” he noted.

He also promised that all programs and projects that benefitted the people of Laoag will continue; while he will stop others that are not beneficial to the people.

He also stressed he will start to realize all of his campaign promises in his first 100 days in office. He cited the clearing of the Laoag City General Hospital and the Laoag City Commercial Center as among his main focus.

In line with this, he appealed to all city hall department heads and employees to work with him with patience and cooperation; though he said he feels that some city hall employees are afraid of the new administration.

“Ngem idawat ko laeng iti talek yo. Siyak tay tao a natangken pakinakem ken pammati na, ngem patas,” he said.

Mr. Keon also mentioned that will reach out to the city’s different sectors and start a dialogue with them before he implements policies, programs and projects.

“Real change does not happen overnight. The creation of new Laoag cannot be hurried. There is a need to study, analyze and review before implementation,” he explained. 

The new Laoag mayor also promised that the city government will support the programs and activities of new Ilocos Norte Governor Mathew Joseph M. Manotoc.

Likewise, he said he is also looking forward to working with the Sanggunian headed by Mr. Lazo; he added that he this includes those who did not run under his banner.

All the city hall and national agencies employees paid their respective courtesy calls to the mayor during his first day in office.

Turnover

Meanwhile, City interior and local government officer Janet Duarte announced that there was a smooth flow of transition of documents from the different department offices to the new administration.

The formal turnover was held on June 20, 2019 with some of the department heads personally turning over important documents to the new Laoag mayor.

The said documents include the Governance Assessment Report (CY2018); COA report (2018); contracts and loan agreements; comprehensive development plan; Local Development Investment Plan; Annual Investment Plan, Comprehensive Land Use or Physical Framework Plan; and more.

In addition to the documents were the Full Disclosure Policy documents such as Annual Budget for 2019; Statement of Debt Service of 2018; Statement of Receipts and Expenditures of 2018; Annual Procurement Plan for 2019; and many others.

Ms. Duarte said documents pertaining to the inventory of immovable properties and movable properties are next.

Ocular inspection

After the turnover of documents, Messrs. Keon and Lazo with some of the elected Team Marcos councilors went on an ocular inspection of the LCGH, LCCC, the engineering office, evacuation center, DPS, Slaughterhouse, central terminal and others.

After the inspection, The Ilocos Times learned that the mayor will create an inventory task force for the said edifices.

The new mayor also took the chance to visit all the offices at the city hall building.