New mayor to overhaul Tagbilaran, partner with provincial government

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Newly installed City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II has vowed to pursue transparency in his administration and to work hand in hand with the provincial government, under re-elected Governor Edgar Chatto.

Yap, during his recent inaugural rites, announced that his first executive order was to create a technical working group that would review and verify all City Hall transactions, property, equipment and other assets.

The mayor also announced that he will issue Executive Order 2, “directing all department heads to account all their personnel under the new staffing pattern and to ensure full implementation of the Citizen's Charter on all frontline services provided by each office.”

The public and visitors “will be treated with due respect and afforded the best assistance possible,” said Yap as he also assured them of health care benefits for senior citizens, and lay down policies and programs that would create a safe community for the children to grow up.

“City Hall service will never be the same again….The best has just begun,” said the new city mayor in response to some complaints against alleged poor government service, during the term of his predecessor, his uncle Dan Lim.

Yap told the city residents that his administration will be highlighted with harmony between the city and the provincial governments. “Tagbilaran will soon become a model city and a catalyst of change in governmental functions and services,” he said.

“The people of Tagbilaran will not measure my leadership on the number of votes I have earned. My accomplishments will be measured by how the life of every Tagbilaranon will be significantly uplifted on accounts of the impact of the programs and projects that I will be implementing in the next three years,” said the mayor, as he promised to make the city the gateway to tourism in Bohol.

Chatto, who attended Yap's inauguration with Reps. Rene Relampagos (1st district, Bohol) and Aristotle Aumentado (2nd district), Provincial Board members and other provincial officials, was optimistic himself for a revitalized and harmonious relationship with the city government.

The governor vowed full support to the city's development agenda, saying he looked forward to unity and solidarity between city and provincial officials to make Bohol and Tagbilaran the country's model of progress.

Yap further said that infrastructure will be one of his priorities for the city, noting that only 33 percent of the city's total 89 kilometers are paved, and more than half of these require rehabilitation.

On the garbage problem, the mayor said this is worsening considering that only three out of 20 garbage trucks are functioning. He also promised to address the dilapidated government buildings, to help the police force with more vehicles and equipment, and to make basic services, such as water and power supply, available to all regardless of political leanings.

“This generation will witness and experience the birth of a new and genuine kind of public service ... without discrimination,” added the new mayor. (FREEMAN)