Bermejo vows to leave city in good condition
ROXAS CITY – Outgoing City Mayor Vicente Bermejo said last Wednesday that he will turn over the city government to Mayor-elect Alan Celino better than what he received.
This Bermejo said during his weekly press conference referring to his predecessor former Mayor Antonio del Rosario, now 2nd termer 1st district congressman.
According to Bermejo, he will leave the city government with some P300 million in its coffers in which P149 million was deposited in the bank, P153 million from Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), P7.5 million from unappropriated savings from Personnel Services (PS) and P17 million calamity funds.
In reaction to Bermejo’s statement, Del Rosario said that if the debts can be called as better then, Bermejo is right.
Del Rosario referred to the loan of Bermejo on heavy equipments in the amount of some P20 million for the city.
“Kon ang utang matawag nga better he is right,” Del Rosario said in a text message.
Earlier, disturbed by the rumors which spread like wildfire that Bermejo exerted efforts to exhaust the city funds, Celino urged Bermejo to leave the city government in a good condition and with a healthy financial status.
Celino warned that there should be an audit in the city government once the outgoing mayor will not properly turn over the city government.
During the press conference, Bermejo boasted that the city is financially healthy, doing more projects like lightings of the city, concreting roads, flood control, etc.
The outgoing mayor was also proud that in three years time, he only has 7 employees who became regular during his stint and decreased PS from 61% to 48% in which the legal is 45%.
He lamented that he lost despite his many projects in the city .
He urged his constituents to support Celino if he will be doing good but it not “we should comment on him” he added.
Bermejo, in a radio interview, also advised Celino to not let others dictate him and fulfill his promises during his incumbency.
Celino of Liberal Party (LP) garnered votes of 33,122 while Bermejo of Ugyon Kita Capiz only got 32,431 votes with a margin of 691 votes.
