Consolacion mayoral bet believes: His profession gives him edge

CEBU, Philippines — An engineer from Barangay Pulpogan believes his profession gives him an advantage over other candidates as he vies for the highest public post in Consolacion Town.

Barangay Councilman Mike Mercado said that as a naval engineer, he will prioritize infrastructure projects aimed at addressing traffic congestion, health concerns, and improving government services in Consolacion.

Mercado, together with his councilor slate under Team Uswag, is confident they can bring change and progress to Consolacion if elected in the 2025 midterm elections.

Mercado previously ran for a seat on the Consolacion Municipal Council in 2022 but was unsuccessful. However, he won a seat as barangay councilman in the 2023 barangay elections, a position he currently holds.

He said he can bring significant change to Consolacion because, coming from a poor family himself, he understands that hard work can lead to real progress --something he wants to help others achieve if elected as mayor.

“This is what motivated me to run --for me to give back to the people,” Mercado said.

Plans and projects

As an engineer, Mercado vows to establish a public hospital for the residents of Consolacion. He pointed out that the town currently has no public hospital, forcing residents to seek medical help in other areas or rely on expensive private hospitals.

Because of this, he emphasized the urgent need to build a public hospital to especially cater to those who cannot afford private healthcare.

“Asa man na padung ang mga pobre, luoy kaayo,” Mercado said.

He plans to build the public hospital in Barangay Laray.

Mercado also wants to improve healthcare facilities, such as establishing a Dialysis Center and strengthening the services provided by Barangay Health Centers, which he said should be supervised by doctors.

In addition, he is planning to build a government center in Consolacion, offering a one-stop shop for government services.

He explained that the government center will also feature a town park, “world-class” sports facilities, and ample parking --amenities that the town currently lacks.

“As an engineer, magbuhat ko og master plan for a government center kay nagyagaw ang amoa, nagyagaw lang ang agi,” he said.

Mercado added that his plan will also promote recreational activities to encourage a healthier lifestyle among residents.

“As an outlet sa atong mga katawhan nga malikay sila sa bisyo ug di maayong binuhatan through recreational and sports facilities,” he said.

Addressing traffic

As a gateway to northern Cebu, one of Consolacion’s biggest problems is traffic congestion, Mercado said.

He noted that while traffic is a sign of progress, it remains a serious issue. However, he said he does not place blame solely on the current administration.

He acknowledged that solving the traffic problem will be one of the biggest challenges they face if elected.

Still, Mercado said he has prepared both short-term and long-term solutions to address the issue.

For short-term solutions, he plans to deploy enough personnel to manage traffic, particularly at key road intersections. He also intends to install closed-circuit television cameras to monitor the traffic situation and plans to negotiate with neighboring municipalities to help ease the congestion.

“With cooperation, I believe we can lessen traffic,” Mercado said.

For the long-term solution, Mercado proposes building a skyway --a project he believes is feasible given his engineering background. He pointed out that traffic congestion not only affects motorists in town but also discourages investors due to poor transportation conditions.

Mercado stressed that if elected, the town’s leadership must take full responsibility for solving this issue.

“Being an engineer dako kaayo ko’g mahimo sa paghimo og plano sa among lungsod,” Mercado said.

Team Uswag, running under Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, will face three other mayoral candidates: incumbent Mayor Teresa “Nene” Alegado of Team Alagad under Lakas-CMD, Blessilda “Bingol” Villo of Team USA Consolacion under PDP, and Raul Isoto from the Promdi party. — (FREEMAN)