HELP program to bring more progress, development to Batad
The quiet town of Batad, Iloilo, 120 kilometers north of Iloilo City will see more health programs, better education projects, extensive livelihood trainings and intensified poverty alleviation undertakings.
All these as its new chief executive assume the town's leadership vowing to continue the good works started by her predecessor.
Now on the helm of the Batad Municipal Government is Mayor Elvira Alarcon, wife of former Mayor Pedro Alarcon.
In her inaugural speech, the lady mayor laid down priority programs in the next three years, all in consonance with the previous priorities pursued by the former mayor.
Dubbed "HELP program," Mayor Elvira intends to increase health advocacy programs in Batad with particular targets the schoolchildren and the elderly.
"Hamili nga manggad nga dapat naton halungan (Precious wealth that we should take care of)," she said of health as top priority.
And education as well, the lady mayor added, vowing to further improve existing facilities, build more school buildings, conduct trainings for teachers and introduction of more educational programs in various public schools here.
HELP program will also see more livelihood projects with Mayor Elvira stressing, "ang taga Batad mapisan kag may kinaadman. Buligan naton ang aton mga pumuluyo sa pagpatin-ad sang aton pangabuhian (the people of Batad are diligent and are skilled. Let us help our people to improve their lives.)
To complete the HELP program are plans that will directly address poverty alleviation here.
"Let us seize this moment on the road to our greatness," Mayor Elvira in her speech said while rallying the support of her counterparts in the Batad Municipal Council. "Sa inyo pagpili sa akon bilang bag-o nga Mayor sang Batad, indi ini panahon para sa paghandum sang maayo kundi sa pagtrabaho para sa kaayohan sang tanan. Indi ini panahon sa pangbinahin bahin kungdi sa pagtipon kag paghugpong. Indi ini panahon para sa pagpanug-an kundi panahon sang pagpangalagad. You and I are on the road to greatness. Upod sa inyo, magapanglakaton kita sa dalanon sang kadalag-an kag kauswagan (Now that you have chosen me as your new Mayor in Batad, let this not be the time to desire on what is good but the time to work for the good of many. Let this not be the time for individualism but a time to unite and work as one. Let this not be the time to make more promises but a time to serve. You and I are on the road to greatness. With you we shall head towards the road to progress and greatness) ."