Newly sworn-in Taguig Mayor Maria Laarni Cayetano on Thursday laid out her agenda to put her city on track to be the best city in the country in which to do business, while ensuring a local government that is “truly loving and caring.”
“We will revisit our policies and strive to be the best city to invest and do business in. Siguradong kasunod na nito ang suporta ng ating stakeholders,” Mayor Cayetano said in a speech after taking her oath as mayor of Metro Manila’s fourth most populous city.
“As we begin our work officially at noon time today, we commit to intensify the local government’s efforts in reaching our goal to be a truly loving and caring city,” she added, recalling her local electoral slate’s campaign moniker TLC, short for Team Lani Cayetano but which also commonly stands for ‘tender loving care.’
The mayor also pledged to pursue the city’s priority programs in the next three years, acknowledging that the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic can make governance challenging.
“Walang duda sa ating lungsod na kaya pa nating mapagbuti ang ating mga priority programs: nariyan po ang ating hangarin na ipagpatuloy ang ating mga programa patungkol sa poverty alleviation, education, youth empowerment, improvement of our medical services,” she said.
She renewed Taguig City Hall’s commitment to environmental protection, developing tourism in the lakeside city, improving existing social services, and adding new programs to meet the needs of city residents in the post-COVID era.
High on Mayor Cayetano’s agenda is ensuring full transparency and accountability in all the affairs of City Hall, as well as enforcing public order and safety throughout the city through close coordination with law enforcement, civilian volunteer organizations, and medical frontliners.
“Tahimik at kumportableng buhay, yan po, mga kababayan, ang ating dalangin para sa bawat pamilyang Taguigeno. Magkatuwang nating harapin bagamat mapaghamon, ang pagsisiguro ng kaligtasan sa mga lansangan,” she said.
“Ang tagumpay natin sa mga aspetong ito ay maghahatid ng ibayo pang paglago ng ekonomiya na magbibigay ng trabaho at kabuhayan sa ating nasasakupan,” she added.
Gratitude
Mayor Cayetano took time to thank outgoing Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano for leading the city through the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, pointing out that city residents were well taken care of in terms of emergency services and economic aid to struggling families.
She also mentioned her husband, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, whom she acknowledged as her guide and partner in public service.
“I’ve never seen a public servant as fearless as him. Mga kababayan, ako po ay testigo kung papaano kahit gaano kakontrobersyal, kahit gaano pa makapanghamon, nananatili po siyang matatag sa kanyang mga prinsipyo, lalo na sa kanyang pananampalataya,” she said of the senator, who is making a comeback to the Senate after a three-year stint as district representative of Taguig-Pateros.
“It may be too idealistic for some, para ho masyadong kakaiba y’ung mga nais niyang gawin para po sa ating lungsod at sa ating gobyerno… pero hindi po ba ito naman dapat ang pamantayan natin sa paglilingkod-bayan: dapat y’ung pinaka-’the best’ na serbisyo na ibibigay po natin sa ating mga kababayan as public servants,” she added.
Mayor Cayetano ended with a charge to her local government team, all of whom come from her Team Lani Cayetano electoral slate, to work together and fulfill the duties of the overwhelming mandate given to them by Taguig voters.
“With the overwhelming victory of our slate lie a million dreams and a million lives that look up to us for leadership and guidance. Let us all share the responsibility in building a loving and caring city,” she said. ####
