STATE OF THE CITY REPORT: Bongat: I did my best

By Jam Madrid NAGA CITY --- “Leadership is action, not a position. Action is what gives a leader the honor he deserves.” Those are the words of Mayor John Bongat as he delivered his 8th State of Our City Report (SOCR) Wednesday, June 13, this year week at the People’s Hall, inside the Naga City Hall complex. Speaking before the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod and a large crowd of government and barangay officials and employees, private and business sector representatives, Bongat gave an update on the city’s status on Health and Nutrition; Housing and Urban Poor; Education, Arts, Culture and Sports Development; Livelihood, Employment and Human Development; Peace and Order and Public Safety; Cleanliness and Environment. He emphasized, among others, the city’s programs on transparency, accountability and good governance. The Mayor expressed his gratitude to his fellow Nagueños for the opportunity to serve they have given him. His gratefulness extends to his fellow workers in the city hall whom he treats as his own family, for standing by him when he made crucial decisions on issues like the re-engineering of the Naga City Public Market now called the Naga City People’s Mall; the take-over by the city of the Central Bus Terminal regarded as the Bicol Central Station and the strengthening of the expanded City College of Naga, formerly the Camarines Sur Community College. The people were also part of decision-making when he raised the issue on the 50-year old Balatas controlled dumpsite and the development of the new sanitary landfill in San Isidro and the construction of the almost stalled opening of the new public high school beside the Naga City District Jail. Among the projects that he takes pride in are the “Housing para sa Empleyado Project”, the ambitious Ginhawang Nagueño Program; the innovative Educare Teachers on Foot Project; and many more. In his report, Bongat cited the past leaders who have placed the interest of the city and the people above their own. He said that since he took the reign of the city government in 2010, their good examples served as his inspirations not only to do his best, but to be his best. “It was my hope that our city will continue reaping the benefits of having a line of good leaders who labored hard just to ensure that our beloved city will sustain its program. But more than the competence of leaders, however, I learned that our city’s secret to success is its being less with so many people like you who do not only care about yourself but for others as well,” Bongat narrated. In closing, the multi-awarded Mayor said that he tried his best to reach out to all in the best way that he can as Mayor of the City of Naga. “I can wholeheartedly say that after eight years as Mayor of our beloved City of Naga, there is one thing I’m sure I have accomplished. I did my best, and my best was good enough. My best was good enough because of you.”