INAUGURAL ADDRESS

Hon. Mayor Eduardo E. Ong Jr.

Municipality of Irosin, Sorsogon
June 30, 2010

Hon. Judge Fred Jimena, Rev. Fr. Nestor G. Benavidez, Hon. Ma. Lilia B. Gonzales, Vice Mayor Jose G. Michelena, incoming Vice Mayor Medardo S. Futalan Jr., outgoing and incoming honorable members of the Sangguniang Bayan, beloved spouses and family members of the newly elected municipal officials, guests, visitors, friends, ladies and gentlemen. Saro na matoninong asin maogmang kagab-ihon saato intero.

A new chapter in the history of our beloved town of Irosin is about to unfold. Another stage in our collective life as Irosinians is about to be experienced by us. A new phase in the ongoing journey of our people to progress is about to begin. In our race towards further development and growth as a municipality, every one of us will be a witness to this grand event when the new set of leaders take their respective oath of office.

Mga namomotan ko na mga taga-Irosin, maogmahon ako na magpa-abot o mag-ekspresar san maiinit na pasasalamat ko saiyo intero. Salamatonon san pagtitiwala nan kumpyansa na inhatag niyo sa ako na pangunahan an pamamahala nan pag-administrar san bongto san Irosin. Sayo na daku-dako na kaogmahan nan orgulyo, na niyan, sa atubangan niyo, nanumpa ako bilang Ama san ato bongto. Pero, sa butnga san kaogmahan ko na namamati-an, yada man an kulba nan kahandalan dahil deri lang prebilihiyo an inhatag niyo saako kundi daku-dako man na responsibilidad.

This feeling of apprehension or uneasiness is further aggravated by the fact that my administration follows immediately after the good and fruitful administration of Hon. Mayor Ma. Lilia B. Gonzales. We cannot, and I personally cannot, discount the achievements of Mayor Lil’s administration for the past nine years. Her performance as the Chief Executive of this town has been recognized and appreciated, not only by Irosinians, but also by our neighboring towns. I cannot, therefore, deny the possibility that our people will compare my performance and would-be achievements with hers.

But, then again, I cannot afford to just sit down and mull over this apprehension. Dire man ako niyo binotohan para lang uboson ko an oras sa munisipyo sin kaisip nan hona-hona sa mga dapat ko na himoon bilang Mayor. I have to move, to work, to face the challenges, to care, to administer. For, in the first place, mao ini an saako kaborot-on nan katuyuhan kun nano kay inpresentar ko an sadire ko saiyo bilang sayo na handa maging tunay na serbisyo publiko san ato bongto. Nan aram ko man, na mao man ini an mayor na rason kun nano kay pinili niyo ako na maging Ama san bongto.

Sa pagtrabaho ko, sa pag atubang ko sa mga agyat san pangangaipo, sa pagmakulog ko, sa pag administrar ko, kinakaipuhan ko tabi an malinaw na giya, maliwanag na direksyon, kongkreto na mga programa nan proyekto. And that is why, today, I want to present to you, the three major guideposts that will give direction to our ongoing journey to progress and development.

The first guidepost is OPEN OPPORTUNITIES. Sabi ko kanina, deri nato maninigaran an mga nahimo-an na kaayadan san naka-agi na administrasyon. Pero, sabi ko man baga, deri man kita dapat na magpahuway na, sa pagmaw-ot sin orog pa na kauswagan nan kaginhawaan san bongto nato. Kaya inmamaw-ot ko tabi, mga karamanghod ko na mga taga-Irosin, na bukasan o abrehan nato an mas daghan pa na oportunidad para sa kada pamilyang Irosanon pakadto sa mas maunhan pa na kauswagan nan kaginhawaan.

What area, or areas, do we have to open opportunities? Pareho tabi san insabi ko, kaupod an grupo namo san nagkakampanya, hahatagan nato prayoridad an manongod sa SALUD san mga tawo, lalo na sa mga barangay. Yadi saato an District Hospital, may-on man kita sin pribado na mga klinika, may-on sin serbisyo medikal na inhahatag an Rural Health Unit nan mga health centers sa mga barangay. Pero, an inmamaw-ot ko tabi, na sa administrasyon na ini, mas hahatagan nato sin focus an preventive health care. Dahil nagtutubod tabi ako sa kasabihan na, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” asin naniniwala ako na “Health is wealth.”

So, it is better that the financial and material resources of our municipality will be used in programs, projects and activities on health that give more emphasis on preventing illnesses and diseases. And, one particular attention we have to put importance is the nutritional welfare of our children, especially the pre-schoolers. Our barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars will surely agree with me, that proper and sufficient nutrition of our children will be a great defense against illnesses that commonly afflict our children in the barangays. Kaya, ini an sayo na opurtunidad na bubukasan nato – an opurtunidad na magkakamay-on sin mayad na nutrisyon an mga kabataan sa mga barangay nan mga eskuwelahan.

Another area we have to open opportunities is in AGRICULTURE. An agrikultura mao an mayur na industriya san Irosin, na kun hain nagdedepende an mga tawo nato para sa kanira kabuhayan. It will be the priority of this administration, to open more access to capital and credits, as well as technical assistance and market, to all our palay farmers, coconut farmers, and the growing number of vegetable producers in our town.

Siyempre, kaopod sa programa na ini sa agrikultura, an pagpadagos na pagbukas nan pagmantinar sin mga farm-to-market roads lalo na sa mga hararayo na mga barangay san Irosin. Kaipuhan an mga FMR na ini para mapadali nan masayon an pagdara san mga paraoma san kanira mga produkto na ipabarakal sa sentro san bongto.

The second guidepost is NURTURE THE FUTURE. An puturo san bongto ma-o tabi an kabataan nato mismo. And I believe that the best way to nurture our future is to make sure that we develop the minds and body of the children and the youths in the right way. And, we can best achieve this through proper, adequate and quality education. Sabi ngani sa nabasa ko sa tarpaulin na nakasab-it sa mga eskwelahan: “Edukasyon ang Solusyon.”

However, the education that this administration envisioned for our children is an education that not only concerns in providing the pupils and students with academic knowledge and technical skills. We envision an education that is strongly founded on positive values and good morals. And, because the schools cannot be solely responsible to do this task, we will seek the help and assistance of the religious sector. We will encourage them to be the LGU’s active partners in developing the values and good virtues in our children and youths.

Sayo pa, hihimoon ko tabi an padagos na paghatag sin mga danon o scholarships sa mga pobre na mga kabataan, na may pangarap, dedikasyon asin determinasyon na makatapos sa pag-eskwela sa kolehiyo o kaya technical-vocational courses.

San nakaagi na taon, Mayo 31, 2009, binatugan ko tabi an Iskolar san Bongto na kun hain halos 60 na mga estudyante an nahatagan pagkakataon para makapag-eskwela libre. An edukasyon tabi an saro na programa na hahatagan nato prayoridad. Kaya laom ko, sa danon san mga onorable na miyembro san Sangguniang Bayan, sa pangunguna ni Vice Mayor Medardo Futalan Jr., maka-alokar kita sin dako na pondo para sa edukasyon.

We envision that our children and youths in Irosin will become productive assets and citizens of our municipality, as well as in their respective communities. This is one of the concrete expressions to nurture the future.

The third guidepost is GOOD GOVERNANCE. All of us who tried to convince the voters during the campaign period has promised good governance if given a chance to serve the people. Now that we were given the chance to serve our town mates, we can do no less than give them the kind of governance fit to be called “good”. Bilang Chief Executive, naniniwala tabi ako na an good governance, o mayad na paggogobyerno, sayo na paagi sin pag-administrar na may-on sin mayad na konsultasyon sa mga tawo, bukas sa pag-ako san partisipasyon sa intero na antas san pagplano, pagdesisyon, pag-implementar, nan sa pag-ebalwar sin mga programa, proyekto o aktibidad man. Good governance, therefore, is a consultative and participatory administration and management.

However, the Executive branch of the local government unit cannot be able to fully achieve good governance on its own alone. The cooperation, collaboration and support of the Legislative branch are much needed and desired. And, I therefore humbly appeal for the support of the honorable members of the Sangguniang Bayan, through the leadership of Honorable Vice Mayor Medardo Futalan Jr., in order to deliver to our valued constituencies the appropriate service we must give them.

Halos pirme na siguro nato nababati an kasabihan na, “Three years is too long for bad officials, but too short for good ones.” Sa adlaw na ini, Hunyo 30, 2010, hihingoha-on ko tabi mga kabobongto ko, na deri kamo mahahandal sa paghulat sin pagtapos san tolo ka-taon. Hihimoon ko tabi an intero sa abot san ako makakaya bilang indibidwal na taga-Irosin, nan bilang Ama san bongto ta, para mahatagan kamo sin tunay na serbisyo publiko na pakikinabangan san tawo.

An pagiging bag-ohan ko tabi o pagiging bagito sa responsibilidad nan pwesto na ini, deri ko tabi inkokonsiderar na kaluyahan o kakulangan. Ini tabi an magseserbi na agyat nan inspirasyon na orog ko pa na papakay-adon an pagkapot san renda de gobyerno sa bongto san Irosin. I intend to engrave in the pages of history of Irosin, that my administration – for the first three years and perhaps beyond, will be remembered as one of the best and productive administration in Irosin, comparable, if not greater than the administration of our good friends Doc Eddie Dorotan, Engr. Tanny Balmes, our motherly Mayor Ma. Lilia B. Gonzales or the most respected political icon of our town, Atty. Jose Michelena.

Bag-o ako tabi mag-ingkod sa Opisina san Mayor, an saako gihapon apela sa intero, na ipiliw na mun-a nato an partisan politics. This is the time to put aside our political party affiliation and loyalty. This is the time to cross over and go beyond party lines and petty differences. Ini an panahon na hatagan nato logod san mahiwas na lugar nan buwelo an pagdaranonan sa paghampang nan pag-otob san mga responsibilidad nan katungdan na inkatiwala san mga tawo saato para sa pagpadara sin kauswagan sa bongto na ato pinadaba.

Sa gihapon, salamatonon sa tiwala nan suporta. Mayad na kagab-ihon saato intero. Mabuhay kita asin Dios mabalos!