When he assumed office in 2022, San Pedro City, Laguna Mayor Art Mercado found out that his administration had to literally start on a new slate and build a solid foundation upon which his government could build on its dream of becoming “Una sa Laguna.”
This year, as Mercado assumes his second term as city executive, his administration is now ready to build the bridge that will serve as the way to fulfill that shared dream of every San Pedrense.
This was the sentiment of Mercado – and the new and returning members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod – as they formally began a new chapter of local governance last June 30 and July 1.
The series of events started with the formal turnover and inauguration of the second Mercado administration last June 30 and culminated with the inaugural session of the 20th Sangguniang Panglungsod under the new Vice Mayor Niña Almoro the next day.
Building bridges
In his speech during the formal turnover, Mercado emphasized that his second term will focus on building bridges towards true unity and inclusive progress for all San Pedrenses.
“Kung ang unang termino natin ay nagsilbing pundasyon sa bagong San Pedro, ang ikalawang termino ay magiging tulay ng mga pangarap natin, patungo sa tuluyang katuparan,” he said.
“We will silently but consistently pursue what we have started,” Mercado added.
Top priorities
As the new Sangguniang Panglungsod, under Vice Mayor Niña Almoro, formally started its duties on July 1, the top priorities of the city legislature also served to mirror the top focus sectors that Mercado enumerated under his second term.
The top three priorities of the 20th Sangguniang Panglungsod of San Pedro, Almoro listed out in her speech during the opening session, centers on strengthening the city’s education, healthcare, livelihood, infrastructure and good governance sectors.
Almoro also echoed Mercado’s call for all city officials, elected and appointed, to set aside their political and ideological differences and work together towards the common goal of inclusive and genuine change for San Pedro City.
"Asahan po ninyo na patuloy rin kaming makikipagtulungan sa inyo at bukas ang opisina ng bawat isa po sa amin, kung mayroon po kayong gustong isangguni sa amin," the new vice mayor also assured her constituents.
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